PTA Supports Budget

To the Editor:

One of the most difficult things to do is to encourage people to spend money especially at a time when they are questioning their tax bills and the constant tax hikes. As President of the PTA and a member of its Budget Review Committee, I have attended every Budget work session and questioned the increases myself. We've also questioned program additions, staffing increases, department reorganizations -- even the format of the budget presentations. We don't always like the answers but we do believe the Board and Administration have put a great deal of thought and preparation into this years budget and have given us a product that not only meets the needs of the school district but also begins a process of taking our students to the next level in achievement.

By voting for this budget, we are investing in our children's future. The educational program must keep pace with an ever changing world; the status quo is not an option.

We will therefore encourage our membership to vote in support of the budget on May 17th.

The Garden City PTA

Undisclosed Liability

To the Editor:

As discussed in letter to the Editor last week from the PTA Budget Review Committee, one third of the school budget increase is for "mandated" costs for employee health and retirement benefits.The impression that nothing can be done to manage these costs is not entirely correct.

Unlike state mandated public employee pensions, health and dental insurance benefit levels are not mandated. More importantly, future liabilities for these negotiated contractual obligations are not currently reported and no money is being set aside to pay them.

Due largely to demographics, health benefits that are guaranteed for life represent a serious financial issue, not just for the School District but for the Village and other governmental entities across Long Island as well. We are seeing just the tip of the iceberg. For mature, slow growth, communities like Garden City, the liability is most probably large and rapidly growing.

New governmental accounting rules require local governmental entities to report the magnitude of post employment health benefit liabilities not later than 2009. Unlike pension benefits, where the annual cost varies, sometimes by large amounts, both up and down, depending on the performance of the investments that secure benefits, unfunded retirement health benefits are on a steep upward trajectory.

It would appear to be appropriate for our School District and Village to report these liabilities sooner rather than later, as recommended by the Government Accounting Standards Board.

Carl Dincesen

Thanks For Participation

To The Editor:

People are talking. The buzz about town hovers over the topics brought out during the discussions generated from the participants at the “Risky Business” program sponsored by the Garden City Community Council On Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention and the Garden City School District on April 12, 2005.

We are most grateful for the assistance you provided in getting the word out to parents in Garden City, encouraging them to attend this most informative evening. Thank you to the over 400 parents who participated in the program.

The success of the evening is due in large part to the capable job our faculty and staff provided in facilitating the small group video viewing and discussions. Staff training was made possible by YES Counseling Services of Massapequa, co-founders, Jamie Bogenshutz and Mark Wenzel.

The response from the over 287 questionnaires returned, indicates that parents hunger for additional information concerning the issues our children face today. Parents, educators and the community at large, can work together to better serve the needs of our children and to equip parents to more effectively parent their children. Each generation faces their own set of challenges with the youth and the culture of the day in which they are immersed. As parents, it all seems a lot scarier from this vantage point!

Plans are under way for the follow up program, “Risky Business II” which will be held in the fall of 2005. We welcome questions and comments regarding this program and/or the mission of the GCCCSAVP. We thank the School District and Building Administrators for embracing this worthwhile endeavor. Volunteers are always welcome to assist the Council in its ongoing activities.

Executive Board,

Garden City Community Council on Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention