The East Islip Union Free School District has finalized the proposed 2024-2025 budget.

The proposed tax levy of $75,825,241 is a 1.5 percent increase from the previous year. Implementing a small tax levy increase is typical for the district, as the 2023-24 budget had a 1.4 percent tax levy increase.

For an average homeowner of a home assessed at $40,000, the new tax levy creates a $119 increase annually, or about $10 per month.

The 2024-25 budget is funded 60 percent from the tax levy, 30 percent from state aid, 7 percent from reserves, and the remaining 3 percent is composed of PILOT, tuition, federal aid, transfers, and other funds. To be able to go out with a 1.5 percent levy and maintain support for the current budget, the budget also calls for appropriating $8,902,440 from reserves, or savings.

During the third budget presentation on April 16, in which the budget was adopted, the district had estimated to receive 25,738,105 in foundation aid from New York State, a significant drop from the $29,025,924 allotted to the district in the 2023-24 budget.

At the time of the budget presentation, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed FY 2025 executive budget was expected to not include the Save Harmless Provision, also known as “Hold Harmless”—a provision that ensures that districts never receive less funding than the year before, regardless of decrease in student enrollment or wealth factor.

Since the April 16 meeting, Hochul has since announced the reinstatement of “Save Harmless,” ensuring that the East Islip school District will now receive at least the same amount of foundation aid as last year: $29,025,924.

With Save Harmless reinstated and the district now receiving an increase in Foundation Aid, State Aid now totals $41,523,463, rather than the projected $38,235,644 the district had predicted. The $41,523,463 total state aid is only about a 0.3% decrease from the 2023-24 total, which was 41,667,723.

The 2024-25 budget retains all existing programs and services in the district. The budget allots for the district to add support for the robotics program, debuting unified basketball and flag football teams, additional assistant coaches in MS football, track and flag football, and rolling out new courses that accommodate a range of interests and skills.

The district will also continue to back art and music electives, extending opportunities for college credit courses, and improving workspace for the growing Virtual Enterprise program.

At the elementary level, the proposed budget maintains academic support in literacy, math and general academics, together with maintaining dedicated STEAM programs for each elementary school. The district has increased extracurricular opportunities for elementary school students which include drama club, FIRST Lego robotics at RCK and JFK, and others.       

“The proposed budget sets aside funds for the installation of additional indoor and outdoor security cameras, and updating infrastructure such as HVAC systems, air conditioning and classroom/building maintenance,” added superintendent of East Islip Schools, Paul Manzo. “In addition, we are initiating cybersecurity measures to protect district technology and data such as multi factor authentication, network upgrades and cybersecurity updates to support our technological infrastructure.”

Minor staff changes will be implemented in the form of opting to not replace some retirees due to a decrease in student enrollment.

Larger changes in the budget include utilities, which is decreasing by 7.40 percent, or $105,000, primarily due to the energy performance contract and solar program the district initiated several years ago. The cost of legal, insurance, and auditing is increasing by 11.85 percent, or $136,708.

“That is mainly because of increases due to claims made against the education industry as a whole, with the Child Victims Act, and also with weather related incidences that are being more numerous and more severe, so premiums are reflecting that,” shared Stephen Harrison, assistant superintendent for business, during the April 16 meeting.

In addition to voting to adopt the budget, East Islip residents will also vote on a proposition to establish a capital reserve.

This reserve would set aside monies specifically earmarked for future capital improvement projects, such as major system upgrades (mechanical, electric, plumbing, etc.), interior and exterior building renovations, and site work. If approved, this would be funded incrementally over the next 10 years, with annual contributions not to exceed $3,000,000, and the total amount contributed not to exceed $30,000,000.

“If the district wants to spend from the reserve, we would have to go back to the voters to approve specific projects so even though this money is on reserve, we have to come back out to the public and have a vote with specific spending plans and have to have approval by the community,” explained Harrison.

The East Islip Union Free School District will be holding its annual budget vote and board of education election on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A public information meeting and budget hearing on this vote will be held on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. at the John V. Dolan, District Offices Building, 1 Craig B. Gariepy Avenue, Islip Terrace, NY 11752 (1^st floor-cafeteria).