Hauppauge School Budget Discussions Come to a Close

The Hauppauge School Board of Education held its final budget hearing on Tuesday at the Whiporwil administration building, ending the last of the formal spending plan discussions before the vote on May 21.

The Hauppauge Board of Education voted last month to approve the 2013-14 school budget of $101,834,716. The new spending plan represents an increase of $3,188,605 from the current year's budget, and carries a 3.6-percent tax levy increase, which will result in a tax rate increase of about $200 for the average Hauppauge homeowner.

The bulk of the increase has to do with skyrocketing pension costs, which are mandated by the state. Employer contributions into the teachers’ retirement system will increase by 37 percent, school officials said at a budget meeting last Tuesday. In addition, the district’s contributions into the employee retirement system, which includes most non-instructional personal, will jump by 22 percent. The increases have forced the district's pension costs up by roughly $2.5 million.

Despite rising costs, the district will not be laying off any teachers due to budget cuts, Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss said at a previous board meeting. However, three educators on the elementary level will be let go due to lower enrollment. Two of those positions are due to retirements and will not be filled.

One unique aspect of Hauppauge's budget this year is that business districts will contribute more to the 2013-14 school budget than resident taxpayers. Businesses and commercial industries will foot the bill for approximately 55-percent of the tax levy, while homeowners will contribute about 45-percent, according to James Stucchio, assistant superintendent for business of operations.

In addition to voting on the budget May 21, residents will also vote on the capital projects.

With its capital reserves the board is looking to replace windows in parts of the Whiporwil building and conduct asphalt repairs and paving at Bretton Woods and the High School. Those projects would use $1,215,000 from the capital reserves fund. 

Residents will also elect three individuals to the Board of Education on May 21. 

The candidates include Geri Richter, Ginger Todaro, David Barshay, Gary Fortmeyer and Rob J. Scarito.

Also, due to the withdrawal of a candidate, petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education for Hauppauge UFSD have been reopened. The deadline for petitions is May 14.

Meet the Candidates Night is May 13, at 7 p.m. at Whiporwil.