The Elmont Union Free School District Reaching and Teaching for Excellence 2014 – 2015 School Year Budget

School Year Budget Our Schools, Our Community... The Elmont Union Free School District Alden Terrace Clara H. Carlson Covert Avenue Dutch Broadway Gotham Avenue Stewart Manor

B UDGET C ONSIDERATIONS The State Legislature and the Governor enacted legislation that establishes a Property Tax Cap on the amount that a school district’s Tax Levy can increase each year. The Tax Levy proposed for is below the Tax Cap threshold. For the budget, the standard 50% voter approval is required. Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014

B UDGET C ONSIDERATIONS We are continuing our traditional posture of minimizing tax increases while maintaining quality educational programs. The Board of Education and the District Administration worked hard to develop a budget that utilizes all available resources to keep rising costs at a minimum. On a per pupil basis, the Elmont School District ranks 5th among the 56 school districts in Nassau County for least spending, while maintaining excellent student achievement. On a per pupil basis, Elmont is 33% below the average county tax levy.

B UDGET C ONSIDERATIONS We continue to experience significant increases in State mandated costs which are beyond our control. New York State Retirement System expenses are expected to increase $624,602 – an 8% increase. New York State Health Insurance expenses are expected to increase $161,965. Special Education enrollment increases – cost increase of $2,075,351. Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014

M ANDATED I NCREASES Impact of These items equal 100 % of the total budget increase. $ 2,861,918 Total Mandated Increase Stated another way, Mandated Costs increase the budget by 3.5% alone. New York State We have made reductions in many areas of the budget. The budget change for all other areas is 0.0%. In the past 3 years, State Mandates have increased the budget by $8 million; State Aid over the same period has increased only $2 million; this leaves a $6 million gap for local taxpayers.

T HE P ROPOSED B UDGET Funds all current educational needs. Maintains current class sizes. Maintains summer educational programs for over 500 children. Continues to fund existing academic programs such as Model UN, Saturday Academy, and After- School Tutorials. Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014

P ROPOSED E XPENDITURES Total Budget: $ 83,767,318 Mandated Items: + $ 2,861,918 All Other Expenditures: $ 0 Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014

ELMONT MANDATED TAX CAP CALCULATION Allowable Tax Levy Growth Factor (CPI) 1.5% Capital Cost Tax Levy Exclusion (0.3%) Elmont State-Mandated Tax Levy Cap 1.2% The Proposed Tax Levy Increase is 0.6% Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014

D OES T HIS M EAN ?.... W HAT The average Elmont home $300,726 Tax Levy Increase 0.6% Estimated Average Dollar Impact is calculated at less than $ 0.05 per day! Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Budget Savings Central data processing reduced through prior investments in technology and efficiencies, decreasing by $65,000. Reduction of $458,504 in the regular instruction budget by purchasing needed textbooks for Common Core in the current year budget. Reduction of $56,987 for pupil services. Reduction of 4 teaching positions – while maintaining existing class size – savings of $373,390. We continue to achieve ongoing savings in the building operations and maintenance budget through our investment in capital building infrastructure in recent years. The above savings equals $953,881 Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Voting Procedures and Registration To participate in the annual budget vote, you must be registered to vote. Qualified residents may go to their designated school and register any school day during school hours until May 13, Evening voter registration will be held May 13 th, from 4:00pm to 9:00pm at the Elmont Road School ONLY. For any voter registration inquiries, please contact the office of the District Clerk at extension Remember to Vote: Tuesday, May 20, 2014