Levittown budget planning shows $1.2 million gap; board to rely on reserves and expected foundation‑aid restoration

The Levittown Board of Education heard a budget update March 6 that left district leaders still balancing a roughly $1.2 million shortfall ahead of a final adoption March 20.

"We are short by $1,200,000," said Mike Fabiano, the district business official, as he outlined a budget that began with requests just under 6 percent and was trimmed by approximately $4.3 million to a proposed increase of a little over 4.2 percent. Fabiano said the district is planning for the May vote and must close the gap through a mix of additional revenue, reserve appropriations or cuts.

Fabiano told the board the district is assuming an $800,000 restoration to foundation aid that does not appear in the governor’s proposed budget but which the district expects the state legislature to restore. He also said the budget currently incorporates roughly $2.95 million in reserves, including an additional $500,000 for the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) because ERS costs rose this year.

"One of the things that we are probably gonna rely on in this budget is the recognition of $800,000 in foundation aid," Fabiano said, later adding that the district will know the state outcome by mid‑April.

Board members pressed for clarification about using reserves and the pension formulas. Superintendent Winch and other members cautioned that reserves are designed for one‑time spikes rather than ongoing revenue. "Utilizing reserves as an ongoing revenue is a problem," Winch said, urging the board to treat the ERS appropriation as a spike the district expects to restore later.

Fabiano also flagged a roughly 4 percent increase in some BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) costs that contributes to this year’s variance; he said BOCES aid typically returns in the following year’s aid run.

The board will get final staffing and enrollment figures from the business office on March 20, after which members will be asked to adopt the budget to put before voters in May.