West Islip School District reports surplus in 2018, 2019 and 2020

The Office of the New York State Comptroller shows that the West Islip School District has reported a surplus in each of the past three years. General Fund surplus amounts, net of internal transfers, were $4.5MM in 2018, $3.8MM in 2019 and $4.9MM in 2020 at the same time the District maintained an unassigned fund balance of approximately $5.0MM. The surpluses have primarily been used to increase total fund balances in the General Fund from $23.4MM in 2018 to $32.1MM in 2020. By these and other measures the financial condition of the District appears to be healthy. Residents should therefore scrutinize any District decision in the upcoming budget process that denies or reduces students’ services if that decision is solely on a financial basis. While state aid and the uncertainty from the pandemic are legitimate concerns for the 2021/2022 budget, the District seems to have a budget approach that ensures a surplus, allows for increases in reserves and maintains an unassigned fund balance at the state’s statutory limit of 4%. Furthermore one can only surmise that the same conservative approach is used to value reserves. While its been this "rainy day" approach that has resulted in a healthy financial condition, at what point should students share in the benefit of these surpluses with additional or enhanced services that improve their learning experience?