Superintendent's Message from February Newsletter

As we enter the budget cycle for 2014-15, the preliminary state aid figure given to Lindenhurst is approximately $355,000,  or 0.8 percent.

As a result of the Triborough Amendment, we are unable to freeze salaries of workers who have steps and increments, even though their contracts may have expired. In addition, there are increases in pension costs, health care costs, not to mention the upcoming cost of Obamacare beginning in 2015. The result is we must continue to reduce staff and services or further burden our taxpayers by possibly piercing the tax levy cap, which may be as low as 1.46 percent (Consumer Price Index).

The Gap Elimination Adjustment is a formula in the state budget that reduces the amount of aid each school district is entitled to receive. New York State introduced the GEA in 2009-10 when it was known as the Deficit Reduction Assessment to partially reduce the state’s $10 billion budget deficit. It was used in 2011-12 to allocate an unprecedented $2.56 billion statewide cut in aid. Over the past three years, it has been used to reduce state aid to school districts by $6.35 billion. In 2013-14, as a result of the GEA, Lindenhurst lost more than $5 million and over a three-year period, Lindenhurst lost more than $18 million.
 
The proposed state aid for 2014-15 is less than the state aid Lindenhurst received in 2009-10. We have passed the point where we can do more with less. We will have to do less with less. The GEA, combined with a major state aid reduction from which we have not recovered, insufficient mandate relief and the enactment of the property tax cap, has created irreversible financial consequences. We can no longer rely on our fund balances and reserves. 

Please write to your legislators asking them to restore the Gap Elimination Adjustment and to increase Lindenhurst’s state aid for 2014-15.

Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney
640 West Montauk Highway
Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Senator Phil Boyle
69 West Main Street, Suite B
Bay Shore, NY 11706

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Designated Polling Places:
The Lindenhurst School District, in preparation for the Annual Budget Vote and Trustee Election, on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, made changes to its designated polling places. Residents who last year voted at Alleghany Avenue Elementary School will this year vote at Lindenhurst Middle School, located at 350 South Wellwood Avenue. The other polling locations of Albany Avenue, Daniel Street, Harding Avenue and William Rall Elementary Schools remain the same.

Resident Voting Information:
You may vote in the School Budget Election if you meet the following criteria: Have been a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote; Are at least 18 years of age; and a citizen of the United States. Please Note: If you are registered with the Suffolk County Board of Elections or have voted in a general, special, or primary election within the last four years, you do not need to register. However, to ensure your eligibility, we encourage registration. District residents may register to vote weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the district clerk’s office, located at the McKenna Administration Building, 350 Daniel Street, Lindenhurst.

Absentee Ballot Applications:
Absentee applications can be obtained from the district clerk’s office at the McKenna Administration Building, 350 Daniel Street, Lindenhurst. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the district clerk’s office at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed, or the day before the election if picked up in person. All absentee ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. on the day of the vote. For further information, please call the district clerk at (631) 867-3070.

Exercise your right to Vote!

Click here to download the Update Registrant Information Form.

Return form to:
District Clerk
McKenna Administration Building
350 Daniel Street
Lindenhurst, NY 11757