Serving New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Herricks, Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Floral Park
$1
Friday, March 16, 2018
Vol. 67, No. 11
N E W H Y D E PA R K
TOWN EMPLOYEE HERRICKS MARKS MANGANO SENTENCED PARKLAND TRIAL BEGINS PAGE 26
Herricks talks budget proposal cost drivers
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
N I N JA WA R R I O RS
Teacher retirement, health insurance hikes out of school district control BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN Herricks school officials focused on the expenses of their $114.16 million budget proposal at a presentation last Thursday night, noting the need to deal with cost increases that are out of their control while retaining programming. The budget would be $2.94 million, or 2.65 percent, above the current budget. This comes with a 2.55 percent increase to the tax levy, from $94.09 million to $96.49 million – or $2.39 million. This year’s tax cap is higher than usual, according to the school district, with the tax levy increase averaging 1.44 percent over three years, including this year. Just over three-quarters of the budget goes toward school programming, which will cost $86.78 million. This includes teacher salaries, materials and supplies. Lisa Rutkoske, the assistant
superintendent for business, said that many budget items were out of the schools’ control. The teacher retirement system, which is run by the state, calls for a 10.63 percent increase. This is somewhat offset by the employee retirement system, also run by the state, which calls for a decrease of 14.9 percent. The school district also anticipates a 10 percent year-on-year increase in employee healthcare insurance costs, Rutkoske said, although this is “mitigated” by increased employee contribution rates. “It really is systematic, I think, across the United States right now,” Rutkoske said. According to the presentation, employee benefits will go up 7.47 percent – or from $25.26 million to $27.15 million. This translates to more than half the overall expenditure increase for the school district. Continued on Page 59
PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR
Sarah Doulos, 7, left, Zachary Manderbach 7, center, and Mateo Limberis, 7, challenge themselves to do as many chin-ups as they can during Progressive Gymnastics East’s Warriror Fitness Challenge on Sunday.
Herricks alumnus anchors for NBC during Olympics B Y R E B E C C A K L A R Super Bowl and Winter Olym- growing family recently moved to Garden City. pics for the network. McHugh didn’t always see But now, McHugh, origiLiam McHugh spent most of February traveling across the nally from Williston Park, is himself going into sportscasting, he said. back home on Long Island. country – and world. “I definitely was not one of With two children and one McHugh, a sportscaster for NBC, recently covered both the on the way, McHugh and his Continued on Page 59
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow