School Board Approves $97.2M Budget After Last-Minute Cuts

The Hauppauge Board of Education unanimously adopted a $97.2 million budget Tuesday night to present to district residents on May 17 after an additional $300,000 in savings was found.

The adopted budget represents an increase of 3.46 percent over the 2010-2011 school year, increasing spending by $3.2 million. If approved, it is expected to raise the tax levy by 3.46 percent. This is lower than the first proposal, which called for a 4.14 percent tax levy increase, after .

“I appreciate the personal sacrifices made to help provide best programs we can to children in the community,” said Board President Ann Macaluso.

Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss said the district’s ongoing negotiations with four out of its five unions - including the teachers union, teacher assistants union - appear to moving along. The board cut $300,000 from various salary codes within the 2011-2012 budget to lower the proposed tax levy to 3.46 percent.

The adopted budget calls for teacher and personnel cuts with reductions to co-curricular activities and sports teams. It calls for the elimination of 23 teaching positions and five teaching assistants, which would result in the district laying off of 16 teachers and three assistants as of Tuesday, Sullivan-Kriss said. The other positions will be eliminated through a combination of retirement and attrition. Overall, the district plans to reduce 32 staff positions.

Other cuts within the adopted budget include the elimination of eight varsity-level assistant coaching positions and combining the seventh-grade and eighth-grade sports teams at the middle school. Co-curricular activities would receive $41,700 less in funding, primarily affecting the high school and middle school clubs.

If the adopted budget is passed, Town of Islip homeowners can expect to pay $5,585 in taxes for the 2011-2012 school year, an increase of $184 annually or 3.4 percent over the current year based on the 2010 assessment rates.

Town of Smithtown homeowners can expect pay $5,021 in the 2011-2012 school year if the budget is approved, an increase of 3.46 percent, or an additional $168 annually over the current year based on the 2010 assessment rates.

The Hauppauge Board of Education will hold a public budget hearing on May 11 at 8 p.m. at the former Whiporwhil Elementary School. The vote is on May 17.