The Hauppauge School District is looking at a possible budget of $101,612,222 for the 2013-14 school year. However, sequestration may have a significant impact on the district's federal funding.
In a statement to the community last week, the district stated:
"One of the various and most recent factors to play a role in the construction of our budget is the recent sequestration that was enacted by the federal government today; a result of Congress’ and the President’s inability to reach consensus on how to address the national debt. As a result, Hauppauge Public Schools estimates it will lose $50,000 in federal funding for this school year and $90,000 for next year. Although we do not expect these cuts to affect staffing this year, we will need to evaluate the potential impact on the next school year."
Sequestration is not expected to cause any teacher cuts this year, however, some teachers will be excessed in 2013-14 due to lower enrollment, Superintendent Patricia Sullivan-Kriss said during a budget workshop last month.
A second budget workshop will take place March 12 at 8 p.m. to discuss revenues and taxes.
Preliminary figure suggest that 2013-14 budget will result in a 3.01-percent increase from the current school year. The proposed tax levy is estimated to be $79,490,508, a 3.6 percent increase, which is within the state's tax levy limit, once the numbers are figured into the state's formula.
When it comes to tax rate increases, the 2013-14 school budget will translate to an estimated increase of $202 in Islip and $195 in Smithtown on the average home. Those projections are expected to fluctuate as they are based on last year's tax assessments. The current year's figures are not yet available.
The school budget meetings schedule is as follows:
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March 12 - Board Meeting and Budget Workshop: Revenue, Taxes (Tax Cap) 8 p.m.
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March 19 -Budget Workshop: Transportation, Instruction, General Support 8 p.m.
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April 2 - Budget Workshop: Employee Benefits, Undistributed Capital 8:00 p.m.
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April 9 - Budget Adoption 8 p.m.
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May 7 - Budget Hearing 8 p.m.
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May 21 - Budget Vote 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
All meetings will be held at the Whiporwil School (495 Hoffman Lane, Hauppauge, NY) in the James Baxter Board Room.
