The West Hempstead Board of Education proposed a draft budget of more than $78 million last night (3/12), with Superintendent Dan Rehman calling on opponents of spending increases to engage and bring ideas.
“You have been invited to the table 100 times. You don’t come,” Rehman said at the board meeting, with a small audience at West Hempstead High School and a larger virtual audience joining remotely. “If you have ideas, bring them in.”
The $78,936,533 preliminary budget, to be approved by a general district vote on May 21, is a 6.4 percent increase over the current $74,125,176, which was adopted on a revote last year after an initial rejection. The final sum to go on the ballot may vary due to state funding yet to be approved and other adjustments.
The district has faced considerable backlash in recent years against spending increases, primarily from private school parents, as the number of public school students has declined.
Rehman said the district faces expenses beyond its control such as pension, infrastructure and transportation costs as well as special education reimbursement mandates he expects to face from students who choose schools outside the district. That recent, unexpected cost could be as high as $500,000.
According to the board, spending per student would be $24,750, which would be fourth lowest in Nassau County, and lower than several adjoining districts, including Malvern, Rockville Center and Lynbrook. That figure includes money allocated to private school students for transportation, nurses, special education and more, said Board President Karen Brohm.
The draft budget projects $17,173,889 in state aid, and $51,014,049 in tax levies, with several local private infrastructure projects expected to contribute payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs). The cost per household has yet to be determined.
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Brian Phillips told the audience that the district had been forced by circumstances in recent years to dip into reserve funds, and that continually doing so is “not sustainable,” forcing the district to make hard decisions about cutting costs and raising revenue. “The rainy day is here,” Rehman said.
He added that the board “will continue to look at cost savings, but unless the state comes through we are going to be looking at some excess,” forcing cuts and program reductions. He said he was hopeful that a mandate that school districts acquire expensive “green” electric buses beginning in 2027 will not implemented because it would be “a bear” further straining the budget.
Rehman assured the public that every dollar was being watched carefully. “We are not going to Vegas and betting on the horses. We are not doing anything nefarious.”
Residents will have an opportunity to sound off on the budget tentatively scheduled for March 26, with budget adoption slated for April 16th.
Previous Coverage:
WHUFSD Superintendent Daniel Rehman Talks about Enrollment, Financial Challenges
