What are We Voting on When We Vote on the Budget

What does it mean to vote Yes or No on the school district budget?

Here's what the ballot proposition says:

So you are voting on the total budget amount.

The district will then fund the budget through the tax levy, state aid, PILOTS,other smaller revenue sources and by using part of our reserve funds.

The administration and Board of Education spent months compiling this budget. The details were discussed at public meetings multiple times and a wealth of detail is posted on their website.

That planning and the State's required timeline on budgets occurred before we knew the full impact of the pandemic on our schools. Some voters are worried educating our children will become more expensive now, some are worried we can't support our schools in this economy, some are worried we need a different plan for how that money is spent. However, there was no option to change the total budget amount before our vote.

So what happens?

If the budget passes, the district has options.  If spending needs to be re-allocated to keep our students and staff safe, for example, districts have a mechanism for that. The administration can propose to the board that funds be transferred from one budget line to another. The law is very specific here as to what can be done and how. The trustees can then discuss and vote on the proposed transfer at a public meeting. Every year there are some budget transfers as unexpected expenses occur or a contract comes in lower than expected. You can see these in the minutes on the website and those meetings are recorded as well.

But did we save money this year?

These past two months have been unprecedented and we don't have the final figures. The board and administration has had to review revised cash flow statements on a weekly basis. Some utilities and supplies were down but the bulk of the budget is personnel and our teachers are still teaching. We also had unanticipated expenses of delivering food to students in need and making sure everyone had what they needed to join their classmates online. If we unexpectedly save money, that year end fund balance can be allocated to help reduce the following year's taxes. This year's taxes were held down in part because of that appropriated fund balance. However, creating safe schools with social distancing may well turn out to be costly.

What if the budget fails?

Generally, if a school budget fails, the board education meets and votes on whether to hold a second vote. If they do it can be the same budget or lower or higher. Obviously, a second vote costs money to conduct. If ultimately the budget fails, the board will have to make cuts because the budget cannot increase. When this last happened at North Shore in the wake of the Roslyn scandal, the impact was significant - extracurriculars have to go, athletics and the arts are impacted, and more.

School budgets are the amazing result of a community working together. Here's the math: If we take $1,000,000 out of the budget, the tax impact to an average homeowner would be less than $10 a month. But by supporting our schools collectively, that $1,000,000 get us seven teaching positions AND money in other parts of the budget as well.

And there's more-
School spending also benefits the whole community including our local businesses.An analysis of our budget two years ago found,

The district's purchase of goods and services as well as employee personal spending is responsible for about 500 additional spillover jobs in the Long Island region... These jobs generate $89.1 million in income. $58.6 million is directly connected to North Shore employees. Another $30.5 million is generated by spillover spending that generate additional jobs.

Our community is a wonderful place to live.