Lynbrook School District officials propose $91.4 million budget for 2020-21

Lynbrook school officials  are proposing a $91.4 million budget for the 2020-21 school year, a $3.4 million increase from 2019-20.

The proposed spending plan will result in an estimated tax levy of $71,224,469, within the district’s maximum allowable tax levy at 3.43 percent.

Dr. Paul Lynch, assistant superintendent for finance, operations and information systems, detailed the formula used to ascertain the district’s maximum allowable levy during a work session on March 4 and at the March 11 Board of Education meeting. He said that 2020-21 would mark the first year the district uses exclusions to the tax cap, thus creating a higher maximum allowable tax levy. The most significant exclusion stems from the debt service on the issuance of the bond authorized by the community in 2017. Lynch said that the 3.43 percent levy meets the maximum allowable levy and therefore will only need a simple majority to pass.

Lynch shared the budget process timeline and spoke about the New York state and federal budget mandates. Districts must adhere to school-based financial reporting, resulting in new budget account codes. During the course of two years, the district has had to create 145 new account codes to accommodate the requirements. In the past, some major funding in the district had been centrally located, but now the funds are broken up by schools and departments. Due to the changes, funding transfers have occurred, making it difficult to do year-to-year comparisons. This year, the district also created two new departments to factor in.

The budgets of the superintendent and Board of Education will remain flat. Those that increased include the special services department, communications, curriculum, instruction and assessment, and personnel, transportation and student support services. Salaries will see a slight increase, per approved contracts, and the athletics budget will also have an uptick primarily because of contractual increases in coaching salaries. Those that will decrease include the business department, facilities, fine and performing arts, guidance and special programs (adult education and summer programs). There is also a decrease in benefits costs for the first time.

The middle school and high school budgets increased for 2020-21 due to the need to purchase Teachers College materials for the middle school students. However, the combined elementary school budgets decreased because the Teachers College materials for those students were already purchased.

Three additional propositions will be on the ballot along with the proposed budget. Voter authorization is required on the propositions and the use of the reserve money has no impact on the upcoming tax levy. Proposition 2, use of the technology replacement fund reserve, will give the district authorization to use $515,000 from the technology reserve fund to replace fourth and fifth grade laptops and put in place additional security systems. If approved, $843,748 would remain in the fund.

Proposition 3, use of the building improvement and equipment fund, will give the district authorization to use $2.4 million to renovate the high school’s library to reflect 21st-century learning. It would create a collaborative space, complete with flexible furniture and high technology equipment to support student learning. The Kindergarten Center boiler would also be replaced.

Proposition 4 is the establishment of a new capital reserve fund. The current fund, established in 2015, is nearing its maximum funding threshold of $10 million. The district is proposing creating a continuous facilities improvement capital reserve fund, with a total funding threshold of $12 million.

A budget hearing is planned for May 6, the last day to register to vote is May 13 and the budget vote is on May 19. To view copies of the budget work session materials, visit the Finance and Budget page at www.lynbrookschools.org.

Courtesy Lynbrook Public Schools; compiled by Mike Smollins.