Superintendent's Message

Dear Community Members,

You have undoubtedly been aware of the critical economic environment we are currently experiencing and how that has influenced our state and federal governments, in particular with regards to State Aid. As of this publication in late April, New York State has not met its April 1st deadline for setting the State budget. This development is one that posed a serious challenge for our district’s Board of Education and administration as we worked to prepare a proposed budget for the 2010-2011 school year.

The Board of Education and I take our responsibility to create an environment that provides a quality, well-rounded education for all students very seriously. We are also mindful of our commitment and responsibility to the community to present a proposed school budget that is cost effective. As in previous years, the Board of Education and administration have spent a considerable amount of time examining current expenditures and analyzing projected enrollment, staffing needs, and expenditure increases mandated by the State. A careful balance between the responsibility we have to our students and the responsibility we have to our community’s taxpayers led to the development of our 2010-2011 proposed budget.

With the governor’s budget proposal in hand, which reflects a $683,527 reduction in State Aid for Babylon, the district worked diligently to draft a proposed budget that not only maintains our outstanding educational program and funds the initiatives planned for the 2010-2011 school year, but also contains costs.

As a result of our strong financial planning, a decrease in our projected enrollment, and staff reductions through attrition, I am proud to say that we have been able to reach this goal. The result of our planning is a proposed 2010-2011 budget that carries a 2.43% budget-to-budget increase, the lowest we have seen in 18 years and a projected tax rate increase of 1.93%, which is the lowest two-year consecutive tax rate increase we have seen in 38 years.

The Board of Education and administration urge all residents to review the proposed budget and exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, May 18th from 6:00 a.m. to
9:00 p.m. at Babylon Memorial Grade School. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or, to learn more about the budget, please join us at our budget hearing on Monday, May 10th at 7:30 p.m. at the High School.

Sincerely,

Ellen Best-Laimit