2023-2024 BUDGET UPDATE

BUDGET THIS YEAR INCREASED 7.9% OR $2,865,849 FROM LAST YEARS BUDGET. HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN:

• The tax cap for 2023-2024 year will not be pierced if current budget is approved.

Tax levy increased to 2.44% OR $607,429

• The total estimated revenue from our taxes for the 2023-2024 year is $38,885,897. District received $34,984,100 in total revenue for 2022-2023 year. Our district received an extra $2,865,849, in tax revenue for 2023-2024 year. This extra revenue mostly came from stated aid which totaled $11,995,475.00.

1) Administrative costs for 2023-2024 are projected to be $4,987,001. That represents a $394,383 increase from 2022-2023 year. Administrative costs for last year were $4,592,618.00. It still remains unclear why this district requires $5 million to operate three elementary schools.

2)Program Component increased from $26,461,559 (last years figure) to $28,696,070.00. It is good to see that district is using the extra state aid monies towards the Program Component. The program component of the budget includes teacher salaries, instructional classes, music, art, wings, parent university, textbooks, special ed, supplies, art supplies, equipment, computers, science supplies ect...

3) Capital Budget increased 13.387% or $5,202,826. The increase Includes the transfer to capital of $235,000 for the continued installation of air conditioners and electrical in classrooms, replace fence and gates around the front playground at OMR Remove and replace classroom floors in two rooms at Camp and installation of chimney cap on HD Fayette .

4) Health insurance and overall insurance for District employees continues to be a rising cost and challenge. While this is not just a North Merrick issue. CRONM is still waiting on the answer from the BOE on how they plan to address this growing cost and there appears to be no plan in place.

Below are links to relevant Budget Docs and Presentation

Budget Information

Budget Videos and Presentation

Budget Hearing & Regular Board of Education Meeting - May 9, 2023 - General Session

Curriculum Highlights Video - March 14, 2023

Budget Advisory Committee Meeting 3 and Regular Board of Education Meeting - March 14, 2023 - General Session

Budget Advisory Committee Meeting 2 and Regular Board of Education Meeting - February 13, 2023 - General Session

Budget Advisory Committee Meeting 1 - January 31, 2023

MARCH 7 AND APRIL 12 BUDGET PRESENTATIONS

March 7, 2022 Presentation

April 12, 2022 Presentation

Adopted Budget

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON THE BUDGET AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN IF IT IS PASSED:

• The tax cap for 2022-2023 year will not be pierced if current budget is approved.

• The total estimated revenue from our taxes for the 2022-2023 year is $34,984,100. Our district received an extra $1,4513,203, in tax revenue for 2022-2023 year. Of that figure, $26,461,559 is spent on the program component of the budget. This includes teacher salaries, instructional classes, music, art, wings, parent university, textbooks, special ed, supplies, art supplies, equipment, computers, science supplies ect... this is an increase of $907,969 from last year. Remember an extra 4th grade class is being added to Fayette to address overcrowding. District is also determining added extra classes at Camp. The administrative costs which include salaries for Dr. Seniuak, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Carder, Mr. McDaid, Ms. Freidman, and administrative staff increased total $4,592,618.00. This is an increase of $62,997.00.

• Budget increased total $1,354.588.

1) Administrative costs are increasing 1.39% for 2022-2023.. While this is lower than 2019-2020, CRONM continues to question why a three elementary school district requires $4,592,618.00 to be spent on Administrative Costs. We are still waiting for a clear cut answer on how the extra 2 million received in COVID funding from 2020 to now, was used and if this is reason costs increased 1.39%.

2) The Program component of the budget will increase 3.55%. We were excited to see an extra $907,969 in the budget toward extra classroom(s) and extracurricular activities.

3) Capital Budget increased 8.37% or $383,622 for a Capital Component Total of $4,965,871.00. The increase Includes the transfer to capital of $239,000 for repair/replace Camp Ave roof, repave outdoor basketball courts district replace exterior door to stage at Camp Ave, replace Camp Ave gym lighting with efficient LED fixtures, replace exterior boiler room, HDF, replace two pairs of exterior doors on front elevation of HDF, repair and repoint masonry at HDF, and repair/replace indoor insulation & waterproofing membrane on rooftop ductwork at Old Mill Road.

4) Health insurance and overall insurance for District employees continues to be a rising cost and challenge. While this is not just a North Merrick issue. CRONM has asked the BOE on several occasions how they plan to address this growing cost and there appears to be no plan in place.

A big thank you to Mr. McDaid for his work on the Budget and willingness to answer Resident questions both at these meetings and via email or office visits.

Overall, while most of the 2022-2023 budget is being spent on programs, we continue to watch and voice concern about the fiscal challenges that face our 3 school district and how the Board and District plans on addressing the expanding Administration and health insurance costs.

FEBRUARY 8, 2022 BUDGET MEETING

The District held their first Budget meeting tonight. The meeting was only 30 minutes and because of time constraints, no resident was able to ask questions. There is another budget meeting February 15, 2022 at 1:00 pm Zoom link will be provided. If you have questions, or would like to ask a question for Mr. McDaid to answer at the February 15, 2022 meeting, please email Mr. McDaid or call him below.

Mr. Thomas P. McDaid, Jr., Esq.
Assistant Superintendent - Business and Operations
tmcdaid@nmerrick.org
(516) 292-3696

Link to budget materials ca be accessed below:

Budget

Here is what CRONM was able to understand from the 30 minute presentation:

The “Tax Levy for 2022-2023” or The total amount of property taxes a school district must collect to balance its budget, after accounting for all other revenue sources including state aid is projected to be $24,858,449.00. The projected revenue for 2022-2023 budget year when adding in all school aid, PILOT programs, ect… is $36,020,048.00. For the 2022-2023 year, our district is going to get an additional $1,354,588 in added revenue. Part of the added revenue is going to fund the rise in insurance costs which increased 12%. Part of the added revenue, we believe (need to clarify with Mr. McDaid, please don’t quote us) will go to reserves

We also understand that District received new grants (need to find out the amount) and between 1-2 million in COVID relief aid. We will wait to see whether any new programs are going to be added when District presents the program component presentation.

We were able to find out that they are adding a new class for the this year’s 3rd grade. Next year in 4th grade there will be 4 instead of 3 classes to address the overcrowding at CAMP Ave.

CRONM will continue to report on budget and provide a bullet point rundown at conclusion of all meetings.

If you have questions, email CRONM-ahiggins@cronm.com

Next Budget meeting is February 15, 2022 at 1. Next BOE and budget meeting March 2, 2022 at 6:30