LONG ISLAND BULLETIN BOARD

Couldn't make the board meeting tonight. Anything happen? What's the budget going up at?

School Board Decides on Returned State Aid

$2.5 million returned from state will decrease tax levy and increase reserve funds.

By Jason Karpf Sacxhem Patch
During its regularly scheduled monthly meeting Wednesday, Sachem Central School District's board of education decided how it would allocate the $2.5 million in state aid that was restored to the district late last month.

Coming by a majority vote on a leaning, the board decided to use $400,000 to lower the tax levy. The remaining $2.1 million will be moved to reserve funds.

The proposed budget of $287.8 million adopted by the board on March 16 remains the same. The budget to budget increase in the tax levy, though, will decease from 4.8 to 4.49 percent. With the decrease in the tax levy considered, Bruce Assistant Superintendent for Business, Sachem's assistant superintendent of business, estimated that the budget to budget increase would result in an increase of approximately $262 per family per year, or $21.83 per month.

Almost immediately upon being introduced, the allocation of the $2.1 million to reserve funds was met with opposition.

“I personally would like to see jobs restored now,” board trustee Christine Lampitelli said to a round of applause from the teacher-heavy audience in the auditorium of the Samoset Middle School.

Assistant Superintendent for Business said doing so would result in an increase in the already adopted budget. He said by allocating the $2.1 million to reserves the district allows itself the option to use the funds if needed throughout the year.

“It would give the board more flexibility when class sizes even out,” he said.

Assistant Superintendent for Business also noted the challenges that will be faced down the road as a result of having to use reserve funds to meet the 2011-12 budget.

“Next year’s budget will be a difficult budget,” he said. “There will be approximately a twelve to fifteen million dollar deficit because we used reserves this year.”

Even with the majority of the returned state aid allocated for reserve funds, the board announced that a review of the budget allowed for eight district-wide teacher positions to be reinstated, as well as an attendance aide position.

Several times the board reiterated that the Gifted and Talented Program was not being cut nor is the Frost Valley program. In addition, Sachem Superintendent James Nolan detailed the changes to sports, saying middle school teams will be reduced from two teams to one, and that the same goes for jayvee programs as there will be only one team and not a jayvee-9 and jayvee-10 team.

The budget goes to vote Tuesday, May 17. In the event that the budget is voted down by the public, three options exist: the budget can be revoted on, a new budget can be offered, or a contingency budget will be adopted. In the event of the latter, Assistant Superintendent for Business noted that an additional $1.4 million in cuts would be needed.

Before the budget goes to public vote, the board of education meets once more for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, May 4.

The business manager and the board do not tell the entire truth. Yes, we are using 11 to 13 in reserves this year that are available today.

What the business manager doesn't tell you is that on July 1, 2011 the surplus from this current year will fill up reserves to just about the legal limit.

The district doesn't lie they just don't tell you the whole truth. Yes we will use up current reserves but the surplus from this year will fill it up again to the legal limit as soon as the new fiscal year begins.

You dont listen well, those 8 jobs ,the gate program, the trip are all coming from this years 287 million budget, they are all coming from an aprox. 5 million built into the budget, the more things put back the more costs go up ,they all come from that 5 million.

It will give some, but not fill it. They spoke about this at the meeting- The budget next year will be more challenging because ther reserves are being used this year. The community needs to get comprehensive information from the many meetings that are being held around the district pertainnig to the budget. Mr. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Mr. Nolan have been out there, answering questions, and explaining the process, and the scenarios. The problem is, community memebers do not come to these meetings, they instead read this site, and think what they are reading is the truth. But it is not- it is a bit propagandic and sarcastic. Please inform yourselves completely fellow Sachem residents.



This year the Board is hiding $25 Million of fund balance and hording $40 million of reserves and available funds. They are building fund balance at the expense of taxpayers, employees and programs to banking money because they fear the Tax Cap.
This year the district will spend $259 million and collect $287 million

The District has
$28 million in reserves (13 million ) and liability accounts ($15 million)
$11 million in un-appropriated fund balance
$25 million of budget surplus
$10 million in capital funds that can be used to restore programs

Everyone needs to understand every line on this one page http://www.sachemunspun.com/10-6Auditpg21.pdf

The Board sees no need for honesty in dealing with voters or taxpayers.

Next Year’s Tax Increase is 4.5% and they don’t need it

The 2011-12 Tax increase is $5,422,460…$7 million declared budget fat and $1.2 million of capital improvements.

See last page http://www.sachem.edu/board/budget11/pd ... on%203.pdf

The Sachem Board can only deal in fear and deception they have no trust in the community or a moral compass. At the 4/13 meeting the Blackmailers went over the worst cuts possible so they could put them in the budget news letter. Timo, Like Scavo the year before and Falco the year before that said, These cuts are horrible but ewe don't have to do them.

Go to www.Sachemunspun.com to hear the Board members confirm all the below
Current Budget, $282 Million … Passed Budget $287 Million … Contingent Budget $285 Million
Current Taxes, $145 Million … Passed Budget $151 Million … Contingent Budget $149 Million
Fund Balance, $17 Million … Passed Budget $23 Million … Contingent Budget $23 Million
Fund balance is the money you were overtaxed this year that is used to reduce taxes next year

CAN YOU TRUST THIS BOARD WITH A PASSED BUDGET? Twice in the last two years the Board increased the voter approved budget for $ 6 million of unforeseen circumstances. This year their meetings are full of “emergency repairs”. If the Budget passes expect a $4million increase for unforeseen circumstances.

A PASSED BUDGET IS AN OPEN CHECKBOOK! It permits the Board to increase spending and taxes for unforeseen circumstances. It also increases every future budget’s base by $6 million.

A DEFEATED BUDGET LIMITS SPENDING TO $285 MILLION AND NOT A DIME MORE In the last two years the Board has found excuses to increase spending and taxes beyond what the voters approved to avoid returning over taxation to the voters. Last year they collected $282,111,665 and only spent $265,509,366

The Board picks taxpayer pockets every year to level future taxes and bank money
2006-07 Budget 266,665,361 Expenses 262,000,417 Fund Balance 25,471,388
2007-08 Budget 274,707,921 Expenses 265,060,293 Fund Balance 32,148,964
2008-09 Budget 278,801,607 Expenses 267,926,888 Fund Balance 36,110,757
2009-10 Budget 277,694,940 Expenses 265,509,366 Fund Balance 41,687.472
2010-11 Budget 282,111,665 Expenses 259,700,000 Fund Balance 61,700.000 est. inc Excel BAN
2011-12 Budget 287,834,125 Expenses 270,000,000 Fund Balance 72,700.000 est.. inc Excel BAN

This page may help http://www.sachem.edu/board/budget11/pd ... istory.pdf

For 2011-12 http://www.sachem.edu/board/budget11/pd ... ndices.pdf
For 2010-11 http://www.sachem.edu/board/budget10/pdf/Appendices.pdf
For 2009-10 http://www.sachem.edu/board/budget09/pd ... 09to10.pdf
For 2008-09 http://www.sachem.edu/board/budget08/pd ... NDICES.pdf
For 2007-08 http://www.sachem.edu/board/budget07/20 ... ndices.pdf
For 2006-07 http://www.sachemunspun.com/documents/06-7Apendix.pdf

Now Listen to the 4 one minute clips and understand why I call the Board Pickpockets and deceivers.
http://www.sachemunspun.com/wcdeb.mp3
http://www.sachemunspun.com/10106timo.mp3
http://www.sachemunspun.com/11fb20m.mp3
http://www.sachemunspun.com/11blies.mp3

[quote="Anonymous"]It will give some, but not fill it. They spoke about this at the meeting- The budget next year will be more challenging because ther reserves are being used this year. The community needs to get comprehensive information from the many meetings that are being held around the district pertainnig to the budget. Mr. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Mr. Nolan have been out there, answering questions, and explaining the process, and the scenarios. The problem is, community memebers do not come to these meetings, they instead read this site, and think what they are reading is the truth. But it is not- it is a bit propagandic and sarcastic. Please inform yourselves completely fellow Sachem residents.



This year the Board is hiding $25 Million of fund balance and hording $40 million of reserves and available funds. They are building fund balance at the expense of taxpayers, employees and programs to banking money because they fear the Tax Cap.
This year the district will spend $259 million and collect $287 million

The District has
$28 million in reserves (13 million ) and liability accounts ($15 million)
$11 million in un-appropriated fund balance
$25 million of budget surplus
$10 million in capital funds that can be used to restore programs

It really is time for you to put it to rest fred. * million of the 11 reserve is being used this year,15 million in liabities is just that a liability,
your Bs about working with corporationa and millionaires just doesn't apply to a school districts budget, we are not millionaires nor a big corporation. You say they don't care about the future that they worry about that when it happens but real people have to worry about the future and plan for it. That's why people try to start their kids college funds as early as possible , they don't wait and see, they don't put it off, THEY PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. A rational sane budget ,(or any of our households) plan for the future and dont take a "worry about it when it happens " approach. Next year we face an additional 15 million hole in the budget. You just want to mortgage our future for the hear and now. Since we are talking about educating our kids, I thought it is prudent and honest to be concerned about future costs. Your wheel and deal "businessand millionaires" approach is just the wrong attitude for our school district[/color]


The BOE Doesn't Have the Authority for a tax stabilization plan or the right to over charge residents $700 to $1000 to return it next year. In two weeks you will know this

Assistant Superintendent for Business has no intention of using the unapproperated fund balance.
You know nothing about how the budget works.

If the Board and Administration REALLY wanted the Community at all those informational meetings you speak of the meeting dates would be bold and in large letters on Sachems webpage.

Maybe I missed where the meeting dates are posted?

How about one of those automated phone calls? Think that would work?

No information is being sent out because the Board is totally inept.

It is sad to see how this administration fails to communicate with the community. There are a millions ways to do it correctly. The East principal tweets messages to his parents and the North one can't even update his welcome back to school letter.

Or you are totally inept at being able to find the info on the web site. it seems the hundreds of people showing up at BOE meetings and these informational meetings don't seem to be having much trouble finding out.hmmmm

I think it is getting more and more obvious fred that you don't know. They are NOT using 8 million of the 11 million of that reserve fund. They are smartly using 2.1 of the 2.5 to go to the reserve fund. They should have used all of that money for the reserve.You know nothing unfortunately you will not know anything until October

"The BOE Doesn't Have the Authority for a tax stabilization plan or the right to over charge residents $700 to $1000 to return it next year. In two weeks you will know this"

That is probably the best statement in this thread. Whether done to hide the truth so the community will be more accepting of high compensation; done to protect board member positions; or done to really "help" the community by making tax increase gradual, it is wrong.

They don't have that right. Except for certain capital projects, education funding is supposed to be pay as you go. The retirement system's payment structure already has elements of smoothing and stabilization built into it by the state. The BOE shouldn't be trying to improperly add more.

Hiding money this year for use next year is in effect stealing from current taxpayers to give to future taxpayers. It is supposed to be pay as you go.

Hmmm... right back @ you.....

Nothing was said about not being able to find information about the Board meetings, was there? Read much?

There is NO information about Informational meetings explaining the Budget to the Community anywhere on the Sachem website. The budget was approved on March 16th.

The inept Board can't even get notifying the public right.

When and where do they plan on letting the Community know about the ramifications of the budget?

According to their own Budget timeline they adopted the budget weeks early so why isn't the information being sent out weeks early? Why aren't there any scheduled/advertised Community meetings to explain the budget to the Community at large?

Then how does the hundreds of people who attend these meeting find out?

There have been No Informational Budget meetings held so where were these hundredsof people?

This tuesday ,there was one in each of two elementrary schools it was attended by Nolan, Assistant Superintendent for Business and the pres. of the BOE, I bet, combined there may have been a hundred or so people there . In either case there was two meetings this last tuesday and people attended ,they must have heard about it from someplace. You refer to their budget timeline that was distributed months ago yet you still say they don't inform you.You seem to know about their budget timeline.