Glen Cove School Board Adopts Budget

The adopted its budget at its special meeting yesterday, approving a $74,098,650 budget with a 2 percent tax levy increase.

The figure represents a 2.84 percent increase, or $2,046,148 more than the current year's budget.

Trustee said that while he supports the tax levy cap in theory, he is against the way it has been represented by politicians. He accused lawmakers in Albany of making themselves look good by instituting the cap while leaving school districts struggling to make ends meet under increasing state mandates.

at previous meetings for using the 2 percent figure publicly while allowing districts to increase the levy substantially more than that under a set of guidelines that has not been explained to the public.

"My concern with voting for a 2 percent increase is that it's furthering the lie that has been told to the public," he said.

While the 2012-2013 budget is being bolstered by a "one-shot revenue" payback from a deal the district struck several years ago, according to the board, Sunshine warned that school programs will suffer in the following years.

"This year you won't hear about deep program cuts, but we will have to next year," he said.

Board vice president said that as an owner of multiple properties in Glen Cove, he shared residents' concern about taxes.

To approving nods from other board members, Sunshine urged taxpayers to voice outrage to their legislators.

"What we're doing here is not a solution, it's a Band-Aid," he said.

The district's budget will go to a public vote on May 15.