East Quogue School Releases Preliminary Budget

With a two percent tax cap hanging overhead, Principal of the Robert Long said that creating this year's budget was one of the most difficult and challenging budgets that the district has ever had to put together.

On Tuesday evening, the district presented the budget, which Long says does not pierce the tax cap.

"We felt it was the prudent thing to do," said Long. 

The $22,354,584 budget, said Long includes a 1.49 percent spending increase.  The increase, he said is directly related to spending that is out of the district's control, including the district's contract with the Westhampton Beach School District for instruction for students in grades seven through 12; fuel; electric; BOCES; teacher retirement, and health insurance. 

To make ends meet, Long said teachers and administrators made concessions that resulted in a savings of $240,000.

"The biggest savings we have are the concessions from teachers," said Long. "We are very appreciative of their support and willingness to work together."

However, with a task to make up $621,000 to come in under the tax cap, some cuts were necessary.

The district is proposing to cut one general education teacher, two teacher assistants, two teacher aids and two part-time employees will be cut from 60 percent to 40 percent.

The tax levy, said Long comes in at 2.46 percent, which is within the district's legal limit under the tax cap, given the district's exemptions.

The school board is set to vote on the budget on April 18.

What do you think of the district's budget proposal? Post a comment below.