Taxpayers to Reap Rewards

Tax refunds are on the way to residents in the East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Springs, Sag Harbor, Wainscott, Montauk, and Amagansett school districts who are eligible for the school tax relief program known as STAR. The money, called the tax-freeze credit, will come from the districts that have plans to save at least 1 percent of their 2014-15 tax levies over the next three years.

Before the refund checks are cut, however, New York State must approve the districts’ savings plans. Local school administrators said this week that the amount of the refunds was not yet clear.

The refunds are connected to a state law enacted in 2014 that encourages local governments and school districts to share services, consolidate, merge, or find other ways to cut costs. Schools have found those efficiencies in various ways, from tuition discounts and shared transportation to more efficient copy machines and changes in pay for certain employees. The law says that regular teaching staff and educational programs cannot be touched.

The East Hampton School District’s 5-percent discount in tuition, which is part of its five-year tuition contract with most of its feeder schools, qualifies the district for the tax-freeze credit. All but Wainscott signed that agreement.

East Hampton had to find $478,843 in savings, which was also accomplished by bringing in more efficient copying machines and cutting the amount of paper the district will use. A centralized system for buying cleaning supplies and reduced maintenance expenses will also contribute savings.

“We have been working really hard to control costs,” said Isabel Madison, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. Ms. Madison is spearheading the collective efficiency plan on behalf of Amagansett, Wainscott, Springs, and Montauk.

Springs had to cut $240,738 from its 2014-15 tax levy. The savings there will be realized largely through a negotiation process that resulted in staff members paying an increased share of their health care costs, starting in July 2014. Springs is also realizing savings related to energy-efficient lighting fixtures and automated switches, which were recently installed. The district also made some cuts in field trips, intramural sports, and internal audits.

“We had to scour old budgets and new,” said Thomas Primiano, the Springs School District’s treasurer.

In Sag Harbor, Jennifer Buscemi, the school business administrator, said the district had to find savings totaling $332,239. To do so, the administration negotiated a lower starting salary for new custodians and a lower pay rate for substitute teachers. A previous retirement incentive for long-term teachers and a decision not to replace the director of facilities also yielded savings. Ms. Buscemi said the district was then “over its target for savings.”

“It was actually very challenging, because we had to cross everything out,” she said. “We had to figure out exactly what we saved in every area.”

To save money in Amagansett, Eleanor Tritt, the superintendent, said the district is absorbing the position of grant coordinator, which it had previously contracted out to the Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services, to save about $9,000. Other savings came from a hard salary freeze for employees and negotiations that ended with employees paying a larger percentage of their health insurance premiums. The district had to cut about $87,000, but instead wound up with about $300,000 in savings when the East Hampton tuition discount is taken into consideration.

Bridgehampton’s assistant superintendent for finance and facilities, Robert Hauser, said the district had to cut $106,302. Mr. Hauser said it was accomplished by not replacing a principal and a head custodian, both of whom had retired. Lois Favre, the superintendent, assumed the duties of the principal and Mr. Hauser assumed those of the head custodian. Changes to the busing system and a previous staff salary freeze also contributed savings. Bridgehampton actually saved $136,000 beyond what was required, Mr. Hauser said.

Wainscott had to cut about $50,000 from its tax levy, which Stuart Rachlin, its superintendent, said is being accomplished through shared transportation with Montauk and Sagaponack.

“Regardless of the Government Efficiency Plan, this has been and will continue to be how East End districts function — to seek savings however possible,” Mr. Rachlin said in an email.

Sagaponack’s administration did not return a request for comment.