Hewlett-Woodmere Schools to Seek 2.5% Tax Levy Increase

The Hewlett-Woodmere School District will seek a 2.49 percent tax levy increase — the most allowed under the state’s tax cap — for its 2013-14 budget, which is about $4 million more than last year’s budget.

The Board of Education is set to approve and send to a public vote the proposed $109,531,880 budget at its April 17 meeting. District officials say 77 percent of the increase from last year’s budget is due to increases in retirement and health insurance costs that are determined by the state. The largest item increases for the other 23 percent are for instruction (mostly salaries and educational materials) and special education. Capital improvement projects, such as putting climate control for Hewlett Elementary School’s cafeteria and a playscape roof at Franklin Early Childhood Center, are proposed for this year for about $1.2 million.

The biggest cuts come from the complete elimination of the district’s adult education program — affecting about 100 individuals — for $397,686 and the equivalent of about five staff positions, including two assistant principals. Additionally, an $850 fee increase will be introduced for the pre-kindergarten plus program. The district will utilize some funds from reserves to keep costs down.

“We are in difficult times and they’re really just beginning,” Dr. Peter Weber, assistant superintendent of business, said at a budget forum on Thursday.

Superintendent Dr. Joyce Bisso added, “I couldn’t imagine five years ago that we’d be going this way. Each year, there was something we gave up.”

District officials said they would continue to look into staffing changes, such as the recent merging of the chairpersons of art and music. Building-based chairpersons are also being shifted to district-wide positions, such as the recent hiring of a P-12 science chair. The benefits of last year’s retirement incentive are still being felt, they added.

Some other interesting points:

• The district may put forward a bond proposition for climate control projects at FECC and HES.
• While district enrollment is stable, the high school population has decreased, leading to a 3.3 staff reduction stemming from the cutting of science lab sections.
• Administrators took a pay freeze this year.