Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Sands Point
$1.50
Friday, March 1, 2024
Vol. 10, No. 9
PortWashingtonTimes HOME & DESIGN
MANORGAVEN PROPOSES $5.4M BUDGET
PAGES 23-30
PAGE 2
Dems blast Blakeman trans ban Question legality of executive order BY C A M E RY N O A K ES
PHOTO BY KAREN RUBIN
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order Thursday that bars transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at county facilities.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order Thursday morning barring transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams that play at county facilities. “It’s very important to me as county executive that we set a tone and tenor of respect for all people,” Blakeman said. “However, what we are finding out in the last few months is that there is a movement for biological males to bully their way into competing in sports or leagues or teams that identity themselves or advertise themselves as girls or female or women’s teams or leagues.
We find that unacceptable.” Surrounded by young girls holding signs reading “protect women’s sports,” some wearing athletic attire and most elementary school-aged, Blakeman announced and signed his executive order Thursday morning. The county executive said all sports teams using Nassau County facilities have to register under three categories, men’s and boys’, women’s and girls’ and co-ed. Blakeman said that he is not aware of any incidents involving transgender athletes in Nassau County, but that the order is to get the county “ahead of the curve.” Continued on Page 42
Port presents $196M draft budget BY S A M U E L S C H U LT Z The Port Washington School District is proposing a preliminary 20242025 rollover budget which features a 6.8% increase from last year. The districts budget for the current school year is set at $184,265,295, but assuming the 2023-2024 budget rollovers, the district would see an
increase to $196,705,700 in 20242025, marking approximately a $12,440,405 rise. While the state has implemented a 2% tax cap on the budget, Assistant Superintendent for Business Kathleen Manuel explained that the district’s tax levy growth factor is only at 1.02%, meaning that the allowable tax levy to increase is $5,240,635- an
increase of 3.39%. The 2023-2024 tax levy limit amounted to $154,523,228 while the newly presented tax levy limit would amount to $159,763,863. Manuel presented the draft budget at the Board of Education’s meeting Tuesday night, focusing on the key factors in that determined this preliminary budget as well as, the amount of revenue required for the rollover budget. Key factors to take into consideration include expiring pandemic funds the American Rescue Plan funds, given to school districts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will expire in September 2024,
health insurance premium increases, along with increased contractual salaries and benefits. Taking a look at the revenue required to reach the rollover budget, the required property tax levy would be $165,149,146 resulting in the Port Washington School District being $5.3 million over the allowed tax levy limit of $159,763,863. The Port Washington School District is estimated to receive $ 20,268,574 in 2024-2025 under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s state aid proposal. This is a 5.56% increase from the district’s state aid last year of $19,201,487. As of Feb.7. The Port Washington
School District has an enrollment of 5,334 which is 73 more students than at this time last year. To be under the allowable tax levy limit Manuel mentioned some of the next steps. These include, the reallocation of funds to have as little impact to students as possible, looking at staffing by program, by building, as well as stakeholder input, and more legislative advocacy. Superintendent Michael Hynes said he is adamant about addressing this issue sooner than later. The budget will be a topic of discussion at next week’s March 5. Board of Education meeting.