Sachem schools consider staffing and program cuts, piercing tax cap as budget vote looms

The first option would involve staff and program cuts with a tax increase below the cap.

News 12 Staff

Apr 23, 2024, 9:49 AM

Updated 10 days ago

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Some Long Island school districts have some tough decisions to make as they inch closer to school budget votes.
Even with no massive cuts to foundation aid, not every district is getting the funding they had hoped for.
The Sachem Central School District is weighing several options for which budget they will adopt.
News 12 has learned 60 positions will be cut under all of the options. The district says many of them are retirees whose jobs will not be filled.
The first option would involve staff and program cuts with a tax increase below the cap.
The second option pierces the tax cap at 3.49% and spends more than $3 million from the reserve fund.
The third and final option has a 4.87% tax hike with no additional reserves spent.
To pierce the tax cap, they will need 60% support from residents.
If they do not pierce the tax cap, they could increase elementary school class sizes and eliminate jobs of kindergarten aides and social workers.
One of those options will be adopted by the board at a special meeting tonight.


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