The Sag Harbor School District inched closer to finalizing its 2024-25 budget on Monday, presenting its spending plan for Pierson Middle and High School, athletics programs, and four additional ballot propositions.
Despite increases in certain areas and the still-uncertain state funding situation, Sag Harbor administrators expect their budget to fall within the parameters set by the New York State tax-cap legislation, which means it will need just a simple majority of voter approval to pass. The proposed tax-levy increase is 2.9 percent, which is below Sag Harbor's tax cap by a few tenths of a percentage point.
In the Pierson budget, a notable increase is the sum of $49,000, up from $10,000, to offset the cost of driver's education for upperclassmen.
"The average cost for most districts out here is around $700, so what we tried to do was to supplement the cost with district funds so the net cost approximated that of various schools," explained Jeff Nichols, the district superintendent. "The alternative is to hire someone as a teacher and have them teach the course . . . which is far more expensive. It's a very difficult course to staff because none of the driving schools want to drive out here in the traffic. The alternative, which is not to offer it, is not really an option for us."
Jennifer Buscemi, the district's business administrator, attributed other cost increases for Pierson High School, in particular technology assets and classroom supplies, to inflation. The school's overall proposed budget, $406,775, not including teachers' salaries and benefits, shows an increase of 17.8 percent over the current year.
For Pierson Middle School, the district will subsidize the parents' portion of certain field trip costs — for instance, to Boston, Washington, D.C., and the Poconos, "which we consider part of the curriculum," Mr. Nichols said. "If you take 180 or 200 students, you're talking about $40,000."
The athletics budget will rise by $24,156, or 4.6 percent, up to $546,717, to account for the increase to the Mashashimuet Park contract, officials' fees, and new supplies for the girls tennis and soccer teams.
Beyond the budget, Sag Harbor voters will have four other ballot propositions to consider.
The district is asking permission to spend $508,252 from its transportation reserve account to buy four new buses. Because the money is already set aside, Ms. Buscemi said, it won't raise taxes next year. The district needs voter permission to spend it.
Another proposition asks permission to spend another $2.4 million from the capital reserve account on a new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system. Voters previously approved $2.5 million for this, but bids came in much higher than anticipated. The new $2.4 million also won't increase taxes, Ms. Buscemi said, for the same reason — it's already been set aside for such purposes.
On behalf of the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, which already receives a voter-approved $50,000 in tax money, the school district will float a proposition to approve an additional amount of $75,000, bringing the museum's total to $125,000 per year. The school district collects the taxes on behalf of the museum and needs voter approval to do so.
Similarly, on behalf of the Eastville Community Historical Society, the school district is making a new request, via ballot proposition, to establish a $75,000 annual tax levy to support its programs. These two museum propositions would have a proportionate increase on taxes, with Ms. Buscemi pledging to provide specific information on the tax impact at the next budget workshop on April 8 at 6:30 p.m.
The vote is on May 21.