A recent comment from Bob Rabey regarding Mangano’s budget really struck a chord. Our misdirected angst is apparent when you seriously consider the fact that the school’s portion of our property tax dollars stands at about 68 percent - the county takes about 14 percent, while the town is about 18 percent. 

I don’t think there’s much fat to cut from the county budget when you compare it to the Town of Hempstead’s overinflated budget, yet we are so quick to cut vital county services.  However, as Rabey suggests, the real culprits are those who control 68 percent of our tax dollars, the part of our tax bill that no one seems willing to talk about – our school taxes. 

School superintendents make the same threats that the county executive and the governor make. They say that if they don’t raise our taxes, they will have no alternative but to layoff teachers. No one wants teachers to be cut. Our school districts define our community, and our teachers are our community’s greatest resource.

So, how do we tackle the 68 percent of our property tax bill that is killing us? Below are some suggestions that are not new, but timely.

First, we should elect our school superintendents just as we elect our other taxing administrators, such as our governor, county executive and town supervisor. The first thing to do is bring salaries in line with the salaries of the people they represent. A school supervisor is a public servant. He shouldn’t make five times as much as the residents who are paying his salary. Somewhere along the line, things got way out of hand.

Second, instead of blaming the elected officials who control 32 percent of our tax dollars, we need to look at the elected officials who control 68 percent - our school board. They are responsible for keeping the line on the budget. They must aggressively negotiate with both unions and vendors for fiscally responsible contracts. They must be able to weigh the cost to the taxpayer with its educational benefit for every single purchase they approve. They must not rubber-stamp every item that comes before them. 

They need to be our watchdogs. As elected officials, they represent our interests. So when we go to the polls for the school board elections – we shouldn’t concentrate on whether the budget passes, but on who will be safeguarding our tax dollars.  If we are confident that our board is looking out for our interests, the budget will pass.

But the gorilla in the room is consolidation.  I believe it’s time to seriously consider consolidating the five component school districts, namely: Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore, North Bellmore and the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District (BMCHSD).

Taxes are killing us and we need to do whatever we can to survive as a community.  Cutting possibly $1 million in superintendent salaries, not to mention eliminating assistant superintendents, facility directors, etc. has to save us money. 

It’s time to turn our attention to the 68 percent and find solutions that will save our community.