Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
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Friday, March 15, 2019
Vol. 94, No. 11
GUIDE TO GREAT NECK
RUSSELL GARDENS TO CURRAN SEEKS TO GET MONITORING WELLS OPT-OUT ON WEED
PAGES S1-S56
PAGE 2
PAGE 9
G.N. school officials outline
LEGACY
$233.6M plan
Preliminary budget benefits from grants, lower retirement contributions BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN Great Neck Public Schools administrators pitched a preliminary district budget of $233.64 million Monday night, describing it as a plan that stays well under the tax cap while maintaining the quality of schools districtwide. Overall the proposed budget, if unchanged, would increase 1.65 percent, or just shy of $3.8 million, from the current $229.84 million. Paired with this is increasing the property tax levy by almost $3.95 million, or 1.94 percent, from $203.57 million to $207.52 million. About 82 percent of the budget goes toward programming, with $192.39 million going toward things like teacher salaries, benefits, supervisors, instructional materials and other items. Another 12 percent, or $28.52 million, goes toward capital proj-
ects separate from a $68.3 million bond issue approved in 2017, while administrative costs make up $12.72 million, or 6 percent of the total budget. Superintendent of Schools Teresa Prendergast said the budget is not final and has not been adopted by the Great Neck Board of Education. “I can tell you it is a fluid budget,” Prendergast said. John Powell, the assistant superintendent for business, said the tax levy increase of 1.94 percent theoretically could have been more than double that at 4.09 percent. This is because the $42 million in planned borrowing for capital projects related to the 2017 bond issue, and a higher tax base growth factor would have allowed the schools to issue a larger increase, Powell said. Powell said that right now it Continued on Page 57
PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN
Alice Kasten and her daughter Meredith Zolty joke about how Kasten, who received a plaque normally given only to historical landmarks or buildings, is now a “landmark.” See story on page 3.
Great Neck Library debuts $9.65M budget BY M AY L A N L . STUDART
The budget proposal, which is subject to further public meetings and a board vote, The Great Neck Library is essentially flat compared to Board of Trustees held its first the current year’s budget, debudget workshop Tuesday, pro- clining by about $4,000. When posing a $9.65 million budget passed, the budget would be effective from July 1, 2019 to for fiscal 2020.
June 30, 2020. Changes in the new budget include increased interest income, higher rent expenses, a $202,600 increase in salaries and a decrease in library materials and programs. Continued on Page 58
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