Levittown Schools Put Forward $210 Million Budget For May 16 Vote

Levittown residents will have an opportunity to vote on the school district's proposed budget this month. The 2017-18 spending plan that the district put forward is a $4.77 million, or 2.32 percent, increase over the current budget. However, the tax levy increase is 1.14 percent, which stays withing the state tax cap.

Residents will vote on the budget on May 16. Polls in the district will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're unsure where to go to vote, click here to find out.

The budget keeps all of the district's athletic and classroom programs in place, and actually adds an AP Capstone program and expands the districts one-to-one tablet computer initiative. It also expands the district's World Language Program, creates a summer science camp, expands STEAM initiatives in the district, and funds the purchase of new buses and GPS systems and camers for the rest of the district's bus fleet.

The proposed 2017-18 budget is $210.2 million, and features reductions to spending for capital projects and the administrative budget. The majority of the increase comes from the program budget, which includes salaries, benefits and transportation services.

In addition to the budget, there will be two propositions on the budget for voters. Proposition 2 would establish a 2017 Capital Reserve Fund of $25 million to fund district-wide repairs, renovations and improvements over a 10-year period. Funding for the Capital Reserve Fund would come from budget appropriations, unappropriated fund balances made available by the Board of Education and authorized

transfers from available reserves and would not impact taxes, the district says.

Proposition 3 would allow the district to expend $14.5 million, the remaining funds from the district’s previously established 2013 Capital Reserve Fund, to undertake and perform school improvement projects. These projects include bathroom renovations, replacement of the turf fields at both high schools, replacement
of the track at Division Avenue High School, renovation of MacArthur High School’s auditorium, construction of an all-purpose room and cafeteria at Northside School and improvements and new construction related to
traffic flow at various district sites. The district says the proposition will not impact taxes as it is spending money the district already has.

If the budget is defeated on May 16, the district will have another opportunity to put it up for vote in June. The Board of Education can make changes or put the same budget forward. If it is voted down a second time, the district would use an austerity budget for 2017-18, which would keep spending at the same levels as this year's budget, despite millions in cost increases.

Photo: Levittown School District