Letter: Preparing Ourselves for the Budget Process

The evaluation of our district’s spending priorities and practices has been a primary focus of mine . As both a district resident and public school educator, I have great respect for our residents’ historic support for its schools, but I am also a realist. The impending LIPA revenue challenge, municipal tax cap, and need to provide high quality services in the most efficient manner possible makes it imperative that we deliberately challenge the status quo.

That process is already well under way. On Dec. 13 our Board of Education and community was provided with as presented by Mr. Sean Leister, our Assistant Superintendent for Business. As Mr. Leister explained to those in attendance, development of the public school budget is now driven by a new set of requirements defined by the State in the form of the tax cap, which limits the tax levy increase to the lesser of 2 percent or the rate of inflation. Working with ever increasing costs of health care, transportation, mandated pension contributions, and growing unfunded state mandates such as testing programs and Race to the Top requirements, the task is to identify spending reductions that don’t compromise our programs and services.

Over the next several Board meetings, residents will hear recommendations proposed by my administrative team that will redefine certain aspects of our PreK-12 programs. Many of these recommendations would not be considered in a healthy economic climate. Some recommendations may change programs, extra-curricular activities and athletic endeavors that are long-standing traditions within our district. This is our new reality.

Along with these program modifications will come staffing reductions. It is inevitable that valued members of our team will lose their positions. This is never an easy decision and one that I, and this Board, do not take lightly. But the rules are plain: meeting the 2 percent tax cap provides us with no options other than the requirement to reduce spending.

My goals for this budget season can be broken down to three priorities:

1. Meet the targeted tax rate supported by the Board of Education. At this juncture, that means staying at or below the 2% tax cap, which requires a simple majority of voter support.
2. Be responsible to the taxpayers of the community, while evolving an instructional program that will allow our students the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
3. Perhaps most importantly, continue our efforts to place the district, and the community, in the best strategic position to face the impending loss of LIPA revenue.

Our rollover budget that Mr. Leister presented on Dec. 13 places us in a position that would be considered quite favorable when compared to surrounding districts, many of which will be required to slash spending in a much more dramatic manner.  When conversing with other Superintendents, it has become quite clear that many districts will be looking for a 60 percent supermajority to exceed the tax cap and prevent the loss of valued programs and services. Realistically, that is not an option for Port Jefferson to consider.

However, this apparent position of strength quickly and profoundly evaporates when the potentially catastrophic impact of LIPA is realized.  As Superintendent, I continue to hope for the best – but it is my responsibility to prepare for the worst, and as a result, our residents can assume the aforementioned challenge of the status quo.

I appreciate the willingness of the Board of Education to listen, process ideas and ask questions that will help us to meet our goals. Like me, they are all taxpayers in Port Jefferson, and want the best for both our students and all residents and taxpayers of the district. My theme for the year has been – “It takes a Village” – I am confident that working together, as a community, we can meet any challenge that comes our way.

Dr. Kenneth Bossert
Superintendent of Schools

Click on the PDF to see a copy of the budget update for the 2012-2013 school year that was presented by school administrators at the last board meeting.