The Manhasset School District has proposed a $107.7 million budget for the 2023-24 school year, a 3% increase from the current budget, which does not exceed the allowed 2.97% tax levy increase.

The tentative budget increased by more than $3 million, while the tax levy grew from $94.3 million in 2022 to $97.1 million this year, according to officials. The driving forces of the budget’s growth include a $1.8 million total increase in benefits, a $620,000 increase in compensation and a $681,000 increase in all other budget items.

The tentative budget also includes $5.2 million in state aid, an increase of $150,000 from last year. The district, according to Superintendent Gaurav Passi, will allocate $724,000 in anticipated revenue received this year and allocated for the 2023-24 tax levy.

“We have been able to apply $9.6 million in the tax fund levy from 2009-10 onward,” Passi said during a March 23 budget presentation.

Other budget items that mainly contribute to the increase include a $310,000 investment in the district’s special education program, a $270,000 increase in the district’s information technology department, a $93,000 increase toward facility enhancements and $63,000 for curriculum and instruction.

Information technology enhancements include the expansion of network access at the Manhasset Secondary School’s field house, the stadium’s press box, the north west field’s press box and other parts of the building. The district expanded WiFi service in Munsey Park and Shelter Rock over the previous two years.

Passi said the 2023-24 tentative budget is “under stress” due to the rising cost of health insurance and other items, so the district is unable to transfer $125,000 to its repair reserve like it did last year. The repair reserve, Passi said, has more than $400,000 allocated to handle any “unanticipated repair issues that fall outside of the typical repair maintenance projects.”

District officials also went over their anticipated enrollment for the 2023-24 school year for its elementary schools during the March 23 meeting. The district anticipates 848 students enrolled at Munsey Park, a decrease from the 864 enrolled in the 2022-23 school year. The district anticipates an increase of five students in Shelter Rock next year, which would bring the total to 638 students, according to the presentation.