2023-2024 Budget Information
Welcome to the Wantagh UFSD 2023-2024 Budget Information Webpage
Links on this page will become active as information becomes available.
This page is designed to provide Wantagh School District residents with budget information in a transparent manner. The budget that is discussed initially is one that is prepared by district administrators with direction from the Board of Education. However, with Board and community input, the Board of Education formally adopts the final budget to be presented to the voters.
Please check back as the information contained on this webpage will change as the budget development progresses.
Questions about the budget may be addressed to any of the following:
Budget Meetings & Dates to Remember
Budget Vote and Trustee Election
Tuesday May 16, 2023
7am-9pm - District Elementary schools
Budget Hearing
Thursday, May 4, 2023
8pm - HS Auditorium
Prior Meetings:
Public Budget Forum #1
Monday, March 6, 2023
7pm - HS Cafeteria
Recording of Meeting
Slide Presentation
Public Budget Forum #2
Monday, March 20, 2023
7pm - HS Cafeteria
Recording of Meeting
Slide Presentation
Public Budget Forum #3
Monday, April 3, 2023
7pm - HS Cafeteria
Recording of Meeting
Slide Presentation
Public Budget Forum #4
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
10am - Wantagh Public Library
Budget Adoption (Regular board meeting)
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
8pm - HS Auditorium
Budget Hearing (Regular board meeting)
Thursday, May 4, 2023
8pm - HS Auditorium
Budget Summary
EXPENDITURES
The proposed 2023-24 budget, Version 3, totals $89,497,546.
This represents a $4,515,934 or a 5.31% change from the prior year.
TAX LEVY
The estimated tax levy for 2032-24, to support the expenditure budget above, currently totals $65,275,383.
This represents a $1,633,681 or 2.57% change from the prior year.
This tax levy amount is within the tax cap.
TAX CAP
The calculated maximum allowable tax levy for 2023-24 (the "tax cap") is $65,275,926.
This represents a $1,634,224 or 2.57% change from the prior year.
Propositions
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Residents will be asked to vote on the 2023-2024 budget. Details of the proposed budget can be found on this web page.
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“Shall the Board of Education of the Wantagh Union Free School District be authorized to expend funds from the Capital Reserve Fund which was established on May 15, 2018 (“Reserve Fund”) pursuant to Education Law §3651, for the following capital improvement projects: replacement of the athletic scoreboard on the football field at Wantagh High School; certain roof replacements at Wantagh Elementary and Wantagh Middle/High school buildings; exterior door replacements at Forest Lake, Mandalay and Wantagh Middle/High school buildings; ceiling and lighting replacement at Wantagh Middle School and HVAC replacement in Wantagh High School main gymnasium, and any ancillary or related work required in connection with such projects; and to expend from the Reserve Fund therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto, an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of Three million thirty-six thousand ($3,036,000) Dollars.”
Additional Propositions
Any additional propositions will also be listed here.
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The tax levy cap legislation continues to effect school district budgets, including the 2023-2024 school year (this proposed budget).
It is important to note that the cap is on the growth in the tax levy (the amount of taxes collected to run the district) and not a cap on tax rates or individual tax bills. Tax bills will fluctuate, up or down, in amounts that may exceed 2%.
The information presented here is designed to provide residents with the components of the actual calculation of the tax cap for Wantagh UFSD. Decreases to the calculated maximum tax levy amount have a direct impact on proposed budgeted expenditures, absent any additional revenue sources (e.g. state aid).
The tax levy cap also sets budget approval requirements. A proposed budget with a resulting tax levy at or below the cap requires only a simple majority for approval. A proposed budget that exceeds the cap requires a 60% majority of voter approval.
The following are reproduced with permission from Capital Region and Questar III BOCES:- New York's Tax Levy "Cap" Formula: How Does It Add Up?
- The Three Tax Levy Numbers Under New York State's Tax Levy "Cap"
Calculation of Wantagh UFSD Maximum Allowable Levy
Cálculo del gravamen máximo permitido de Wantagh UFSD en español
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2023-2024 Comprehensive Budget
The links below are all the same version of the proposed budget with differing levels of detail.
- 2023-2024 Budget with expenditure data
- 2023-2024 Budget by function
- 2023-2024 Budget - 3 Part Format
The 3 Part format is required by NYS law and reports budgeted expenditures in 3 categories, namely administrative, program (instructional) and capital.
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In accordance with NYS law, the following additional documents are required to be provided to district residents:
- Wantagh Budget Newsletter / Boletín de presupuesto de Wantagh
- 6 Day Budget Notice / Aviso de presupuesto de 6 días
- Property Tax Report Card
- Property Tax Exemption Report
- Compensation Disclosure
Otras publicaciones requeridas en español
School District Report Card Information
- New York State Report Card-District
- New York State Report Card-Mandalay Elementary School
- New York State Report Card-Forest Lake Elementary School
- New York State Report Card-Wantagh Elementary School
- New York State Report Card-Wantagh Middle School
- New York State Report Card-Wantagh High School
- Fiscal Accountability Supplement
Boletas de Calificaciones y Suplemento Fiscal del Distrito Escolar en español
These reports, along with other data, are available directly from the NY State Education Department website. Click HERE for this information.