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North Babylon board reviews $159 million proposed budget as state aid remains uncertain
Summary
District officials presented a proposed $159 million spending plan and detailed budget drivers — including contractual raises, special education, transportation and rising charter tuition — but said final revenue depends on a state budget that had not been adopted as of April 14.
The presenter for the North Babylon Union Free School District told the board that the district is proposing a $159 million expenditure plan for the coming year but cannot yet finalize revenue estimates because New York’s state budget had not been adopted as of April 14.
“We still don't know the state of our anticipated revenue,” the presenter said, explaining that the district is proceeding on estimates and has been told the state figure is unlikely to be lower than current projections. The presenter described $4.7 million worth of primary budget drivers, including contractual salary steps, special-education and health-service costs, transportation increases and higher charter-school tuition.
Why it matters: the district must balance projected expenditures with revenues and reserves before the board adopts a final budget. Until the state completes its budget, the district said, it will be using estimated state aid figures and reserves to bridge the gap.
The district listed how revenue and spending align in the proposal: property taxes provide the largest share of revenue, followed by state aid and local revenues. The presenter stated a projected state-aid number as presented to the board (reported during the meeting) but emphasized that the district is treating that figure as provisional because the state budget remained unsettled.
Key proposed investments and changes included roughly $200,000 to address drainage at baseball and softball fields; hooking a building at Parliament up to the sewer system; purchases of buses and other vehicles (the presenter confirmed an estimated bus cost of $55,000 plus expected contract-transportation increases); multi-year upgrades to building security and public-address systems; and an expansion of universal prekindergarten by two sections to provide about 36 additional seats.
The presenter also said the budget maintains current instructional programs, proposes to add a PPS coordinator and an ENL teacher, and budgets for band uniforms and an expected girls’ golf team if participation warrants it.
The district reported its property-tax cap calculation at 2.41% this year and said it is proposing a levy within that cap. The presenter reminded the board that a simple majority vote is needed to adopt the budget.
Next steps: the board is scheduled to consider adoption of the budget on April 21 (the presenter said the district hopes state revenue figures will be available by then), a public hearing is set for May 7, and the public budget vote will take place May 19 at North Babylon High School.
