Schools
Tuckahoe School Puts Forward 3% Tax Levy Increase
4.52 percent spending increase is on the table.
The Tuckahoe School Board has approved putting an $18.45 million budget before voters, which constitutes a 4.52 percent increase in spending and a 3.00 percent bump in the tax levy.
The proposed tax levy increase is the highest allowable before the New York State-mandated tax cap would kick in. Exceeding the tax cap requires 60 percent voter approval, rather than a simple majority. While it is popularly known as a 2 percent cap, some uncontrollable expenses and growth factors allow for exceptions.
The budget cuts five teaching assistant positions and one special education teacher. The Outdoor Education Program and several after school programs are also reduced or eliminated.
Constituting a large part of the budget increase is the amount the district is spending on tuitioning its ninth- through 12-graders to Southampton High School and Westhampton Beach High School. The district has budgeted $366,856 more in tuition costs over 2012-13, for a new total of $1,516,456. Overall, high school tuition amounts to 29.18 percent of the budget.
The district states that it saved $624,000 by agreeing to exclusively send the current eighth-grade class to Southampton High School for ninth grade. Tuckahoe and Southampton school districts are also in the midst of a merger feasibility study, which is taking a look at how the two districts could become one and what the benefits and detriments would be.
If the budget fails at the polls twice, the district will be forced onto a contingency budget. According to the district’s budget brochure, the tax levy would stay flat under contingency at $15,972,266, which is $478,929 less than the proposed budget. Contingency rules under state law would dictate there be a reduction in administrative expenses, no equipment purchases, no field trips and no after-school clubs or intramural activities, according to the district.
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In addition to the budget, there will be three propositions on the ballot.
Voters will be asked to approve contracts with the Southampton and Westhampton Beach school districts for the 2013-14 school year, for educating Tuckahoe School District’s ninth- through 12th-grade students.
Further, voters are asked to approve $55,473 in spending on top of the budget for the district’s participation in the Southampton Youth Association and $7,868 for participation with the Parrish Art Museum.
A budget hearing is scheduled May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tuckahoe School library. The budget vote and School Board election are scheduled May 21 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the school library.
