By the time the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March and caused schools to close nationwide, Huntington UFSD officials were well on their way to putting the final touches on the proposed 2020/21 budget. But then everything changed.
A drastic drop in state revenues led to the prospect of a large cut in school aid and new expenses related to operating schools while everyone waits for either a vaccine or an effective treatment had to be included in the spending plan.
Huntington UFSD residents who are registered to vote will begin casting ballots for the 2020/21 budget and a capital reserve fund proposition and to elect two trustees to serve three year terms on the Board of Education later this week.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered voting to be done by absentee ballot only. The district is mailing absentee ballots to all registered voters this week and including a postage paid return envelope. Ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 to be counted in the final tally.
A copy of the line by line budget along with a budget brochure and candidate guide are both posted on the district website at www.hufsd.edu. The website also includes a detailed video presentation on the budget by Superintendent James W. Polansky and a comprehensive set of PowerPoint presentations by Mr. Polansky covering different spending areas.
The district is balancing the very real possibility of a significant reduction in state aid along with new expenses related to the pandemic through a mix of strategic spending cuts and the use of reserves, including monies held in funds specifically designed to cover certain costs.
“Given the current circumstances and potentially significant state aid reduction, this was a challenging year to create a budget for the district,” Huntington School Board President Jennifer Hebert said. “After a great deal of hard work by Superintendent James W. Polansky, district administrators and their teams, this budget falls well below the state-mandated tax cap but maintains the district’s commitment to offering a comprehensive K-12 educational program with no cuts to student opportunities or to staff.”
The proposed budget totals $135,938,167, an increase of 1.84 percent over the current year’s spending plan. If approved by residents, it would raise the tax levy by 1.77 percent, which is below the limit of 2.19 percent established by state law. The proposed tax levy is $466,249 below the tax cap limit
It is estimated that the tax rate will go from $245.65 to $249.99 per $100 of assessed valuation, an increase of 1.77 percent. The average district property assessed at $3,400 would pay an additional $147.48 before STAR program reductions are factored into final tax bills.
Should the district’s total assessed valuation come in higher than anticipated in the spending plan, trustees will be in a position to lower the actual increase when the tax rate is set early next fall.
Based on the enacted state budget for 2020/21, Huntington UFSD was anticipating receiving $18,659,508 in state aid. But the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic shutdown has dramatically reduced state revenues. Districts have been told they are facing a severe loss of expected aid. Huntington UFSD estimates it could lose nearly $3 million from earlier projections. Spending reductions and additional use of reserves will make-up the loss.
The current public health crisis has necessitated post-pandemic budget considerations, including:
- Scheduling considerations/transportation
- Social distancing
- Health monitoring
- Student/staff hygienic practices
- Cleaning/sanitization practices
- Personal protective equipment
District buildings have been closed since Monday, March 16 with students transitioning to remote learning platforms as of that date. This model will continue through the remainder of the school year.
“Our community has given us so much to be proud of during this time and that’s especially true of our administrators, teachers, staff and students who have found new and creative ways to shine,” Mrs. Hebert said. “Staff members have worked tirelessly and with great purpose to continue providing both academic and emotional support to district students and their families. And our students continue to work hard and have earned well-deserved accolades in all curricular and extracurricular areas. Of equal importance, Huntington children of all ages have been finding inspired and innovative ways to give back to this extraordinary community.”
Officials said the proposed budget will maintain the district’s strong financial position. Huntington UFSD has less than $1.4 million in debt, among the lowest level of any district in the state.
2020/21 Budget highlights include:
- Provides for an extensive line-up of Regents, Honors and Advanced Placement courses in every academic area.
- Upgrades instructional technologies and infrastructure.
- Allocates monies for new classroom and library resources, computer software and instructional equipment, including computers and tablet devices.
- Continues the district’s 1:1 computing device initiative.
- Funds STEM/computer science initiatives throughout the district, including computer science electives at the high school level.
- Funds comprehensive art, music and physical education opportunities, including band, orchestra, choral groups, marching band, music ensembles and specialized art courses.
- Includes a comprehensive special education program for students with disabilities and support services for all students
- Provides a program of adult-supervised, after-school extracurricular activities, including dozens of clubs for students in grades 4-12.
- Continues commitments to the high school science research program and robotics programs.
- Funds student drama club productions, newspapers, concerts, science fairs and the district art show.
- Maintains the district’s K-5 dual language program and the world language FLEX program to fifth and sixth graders
- Continues the SEARCH and Math Olympiad programs for academically talented fifth and sixth graders.
- Funds dozens of athletic teams for high school and middle school students and a full-time athletic trainer
- Includes monies for elementary grade level intramural programs.
Huntington School Board members will hold a virtual budget hearing on the 2020/21 plan on Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. A link to access the live video of the hearing/regular business meeting will be posted on the district website in advance of the session.
Residents with questions on the proposed budget can contact Mr. Polansky at jpolansky@hufsd.edu.
