Budget Message
New York’s public schools operate primarily through two sources of revenue: government financial aid and local property taxes. Most other governmental agencies have the option of assessing fees for services rendered or imposing fines for violations as additional means of income in lieu of raising taxes. Since a free and adequate education is constitutionally guaranteed to all of New York’s citizens under the age of 21 one would assume that the State should be responsible for the lion’s share of financial support to ascertain that goal, or at the very least maintain an equal partnership. Instead, the State has followed a pattern of diminished funding while imposing burdensome mandates and costly outdated laws.
The federal government, in good faith, chose to make sure that individuals with disabilities also received a proper education when it passed the landmark IDEA legislation in the early 1970’s, promising to subsidize 40% of its added expense to school budgets. The impact of this act has been twofold in that it has opened doors for those who were often neglected in the past and it has significantly increased the cost of public education. Yet Washington DC has never even approached financing its pledged share, only recently reaching 17% of the commitment.
Now that fiscal crisis is prevalent both state and nation wide, the task of deciding how to fund the public school system has been left in the hands of local Boards of Education. Their only options to cover reductions in aid and the continuous increases in salary & benefit agreements, utilities, equipment and supplies are to enact one or all of the following: 1) exhaust reserves meant to offset tax spikes; 2) cut programs and related staff; 3) raise property taxes. Bayport-Blue Point has been fortunate over the years to have a community that appreciates the critical role that its schools play and have supported them by approving the budgets required to provide the quality education residents expect. But there is a limit as to how deep a community should have to reach into its pocket to provide services that it has placed a high value on in the past, and we have reached it!
So what is the solution? These are the hard questions we must ask ourselves: 1) How far can we tap into reserves before it becomes financial suicide? 2) Is it fair or even wise to demand contractual concessions from staff when neighboring districts still seem to be settling bargaining sessions with increases (albeit lower than in the past)? 3) What order do we prioritize programs and extracurricular activities that have been considered essential for a sound and well-rounded education but will now have to be cut in order to reach a manageable budget? 4) And finally, what exactly is the amount of a tax levy increase that this community can tolerate?
Please do not regard these queries as veiled threats. We are mired in a dismal situation that is not likely to pass soon since the economic picture continues to look bleak into the foreseeable future. These are times that call for tough decisions, and it is evident that the lawmakers in Albany and Washington DC are incapable of passing legislation that can alleviate our predicament. We have to act while others debate. Now is the time to let your School Board know where you stand on the issues posted above. The Board advocates for the students within its borders, but remains accountable to the voting public. Therefore, it is important that you know the ramifications of what your vote means and take the opportunity to make it count. I believe there is rationale to show that school referendums are the single most important votes that you will ever cast.
Faithfully submitted,
James S March
BBP BOE President
Contact your School Board via email @ BOE@bbpschools.org
