A Message from the Board of Education
Enhancing Instructional Program Within 2.4% Tax Levy Cap
Residents within the district will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 21, to vote on the proposed budget for the 2024-25 school year. The spending plan was developed to support enhancements to the district’s instructional program while, at the same time, remaining within the district’s allowable tax levy cap of 2.4%. A spotlight of enhancements can be found on the right. Please note that the district’s allowable tax levy cap for 2024-25 has been reported in media outlets as being 3.4% This discrepancy is explained in further detail on Page 2.
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 21, from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Voting locations are listed on Page 4. We thank you in advance for your participation and look forward to seeing you at the polls!
PROPOSED 2024-2025 Budget Highlights:
• New elementary instructional software IXL math.
• Reallocation of funds from retirees will allow for:
– Districtwide reading specialist
– Districtwide behaviorist
• New Philosophy Club at the high school replaces E-Sports Club.
• New athletic uniforms.
• Wings credit recovery program.
• Instructional furniture at the elementary schools to support the Fountas & Pinnell reading program, grant funded.
Understanding the 2024-2025 Tax Levy Increase
The calculation of the 2023-24 tax levy has led to a notable discrepancy in 2024-25. While voters approved a tax levy increase of 2.49% in 2023-24, the levy was lowered by $1,142,393 in August when a commercial property lost its exemption and went back onto the tax roll. As a result, the levy increase for 2023-24 was 1.45%, not the voter approved 2.49%. This makes the proposed 2024-25 levy increase appear to be 3.45% rather than 2.40%.
In May 2023, Hicksville voters approved a tax levy of $112,824,647 for the fiscal year 2023-24. This is the amount the
district planned to collect in property taxes based on voter approval.
Due to an unanticipated payment into the tax roll from a commercial property that lost its tax exemption after the levy was voter-approved, the District lowered the levy by $1,142,393.
ADJUSTED TAX LEVY
The actual tax levy amount set in August for the year 2023-24 was reduced from $112,824,647 to $111,682,254.
PROPOSED LEVY FOR 2024-25
For the next fiscal year (2024-2025), Hicksville’s proposed tax levy is $115,533,074.
The confusion arises because these two different baseline figures (the voter-approved levy in May vs. the adjusted levy in August) lead to different percentage increases when compared to the proposed levy for 2024-25. The Office of the State
Comptroller (OSC) and Newsday is using the August figure as the baseline, which makes the year-over-year increase of 3.45% look larger than the original voter-approved increase of 2.40%. This discrepancy can lead to misunderstandings about how much the district is actually increasing its tax levy.
COMPARING PERCENTAGE INCREASES:
• If you compare the proposed levy for 2024-25 ($ 115,533,074) with the levy approved by voters in May 2024 ($112,824,647), the increase is 2.40%.
• However, if you compare it with the adjusted levy set in August 2023-24 ($111,682,254), the increase appears to be 3.45%.
BUDGET SUMMARY
2023-2024 2024-2025 BUDGET PROPOSED DIFFERENCE
General Support $19,553,957 $19,871,529 $317,572
Instructional Support $96,640,288 $100,336,912 $3,696,624
Pupil Transportation* $8,882,738 $9,690,913 $808,175
Community Services** $141,913 $141,913 $0
Undistributed and
Other Debt $40,527,866 $43,121,476 $2,593,610
TOTAL $165,746,762 $173,162,743 $7,415,981
*Year two of a four-year contract.
**If approved, Proposition No. 2 would add $60,000 to this figure.
PROPOSITION No. 2 GREGORY MUSEUM
Hicksville Gregory
Museum $60,000 $60,000 $0
GRAND TOTAL $165,806,762 $173,222,743 $7,415,981
REVENUE REVIEW 2023-2024 2024-2025
BUDGET PROPOSED DIFFERENCE
Real Property Tax $112,824,647 $115,533,074 $2,708,427
Payments in
Lieu of Taxes $7,122,883 $7,545,385 $422,502
Charges for Services $884,500 $900,000 $15,500
Use of Money & Property $1,010,391 $1,500,000 $489,609
Sale of Property & Comp $105,000 $105,000 $0
Miscellaneous Revenue $384,600 $500,000 $115,400
State Sources –
Foundation Aid $30,911,771 $32,368,208 $1,456,437
BOCES $2,208,912 $2,300,752 $91,840
Miscellaneous State Aid $5,704,058 $6,308,772 $604,714
Federal Aid $150,000 $250,000 $100,000
Interfund Transfer $0 $1,411,552 $1,411,552
Fund Balance Applied $1,700,000 $1,700,000 $0
Reserves Appropriated $2,800,000 $2,800,000 $0
TOTAL $165,806,762 $173,222,743 $7,415,981
2024-2025 EXPENDITURE SUMMARY
Administrative $14,077,77 8 8.13%
Program $136,730,064 78.93%
Capital $22,414,901 12.94%
$173,222,743 100.00%
As demonstrated in the chart, approximately 79% of the proposed budget goes toward programs!
What’s On the Ballot?
*Proposition No. 1 – School Budget Vote
Shall the School District Budget, in the amount of $173,162,743 pursuant to
Education Law Section 1716, be approved, and a tax on the taxable property
of the District in the amount of such Budget, less State and Federal Aid and
revenues from other sources, be levied?
Proposition No. 2 – Gregory Museum
In the event the voters approve the School District Budget contained in
Proposition No. 1 above, shall the sum of $60,000 be appropriated to the
Hicksville Gregory Museum for educational services associated with its
programs and a tax be levied on the taxable property of the District in that
amount?
This Proposition is contingent upon approval by the voters of Proposition No. 1.
Hicksville Public Library Vote
Once again, voters will be asked to vote on the Hicksville Public Library
budget and election of library board trustees at the same time as the school
district budget vote and trustee election. The Hicksville Public Schools and
the Hicksville Public Library are two separate entities. The ballots for the
library vote will be included in the voting booth on the day of the school
budget vote. The consolidation of voting for the two entities represents a cost
savings as well as a convenience to residents.
* If approved, Proposition No. 2 would add $60,000 to this figure.
VOTING INFORMATION
A voter shall be entitled to vote at any school meeting for the election of
school district trustees and school budget, and upon all other matters which
may be brought before such a meeting, who is:
• A citizen of the United States.
• A resident of the district for a period of 30 days preceding the meeting
at which he/she is to vote.
• 18 years of age or older.
• Currently registered with the school district or has voted in the general
election in the last four years.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained on the district website or at
the Office of the District Clerk at 200 Division Ave., any school day between
9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Completed applications must be received by the district
clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to
the voter. All absentee ballots must be returned to the District Office no later
than 5 p.m. on the day of the vote. Absentee ballots will be issued for those
reasons stated in the Education Law, Section 2018-A.
VOTE Budget Vote & BOE Trustee Election
Tuesday May 21, 2024
7 a.m.-9 p.m.
ELECTION DISTRICT LOCATIONS AND CONTACT INFO
Burns Avenue School:
516-733-2311
District No. 1
East Street School:
516-733-2321
District No. 2
Woodland School:
516-733-2331
District No. 3
Lee Avenue School:
516-733-2351
District No. 4
Fork Lane School:
516-733-2341
District No. 5
Dutch Lane School:
516-733-2361
District No. 6
Old Country Road School:
516-733-2301
District No. 7