New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s February 2012 audit of the Syosset School District suggests that it spends exponentially more on salaries and benefits for administrators than districts with comparable standing. Syosset’s administrative salary costs were higher, ranging from $1.2 to $2.7 million over those years, than average costs at six similar districts consisting of Half Hollow Hills, East Meadow, Port Washington, Three Village, West Islip and Great Neck.

The three top people accounted for 89 percent of the district’s fringe benefit costs in the 2008-09 fiscal year and 91 percent the following year. The audit examined spending from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2010.

The district’s spending, the audit report read, on salary fringe benefits ($121.5 million in 08-09, $124.3 million in 09-10), including contributions to tax-sheltered annuities, car allowances and premiums for life and disability insurance, accounted for 71 percent of general fund expenditures for both fiscal years. Salary and fringe benefits for administrative staff represented 5 percent of payroll expenditures.

The audit made one clear recommendation: Syosset should bring administrators’ pay in line with similar districts.

Syosset officials reported in response to the audit that their leaders earn more because they’ve worked in the district for more than 20 years and consistency boosts student achievement. The district’s budget expenditures of $178 million in 2008-2009 and $185.6 million in 2009-2010 were funded primarily with State aid, real property taxes and grants.

Board of Education President Marc Herman said in a letter to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that the district has had an administrative reorganization plan in place that anticipates $1.2 million in savings since 2008. The district expects additional reductions for the 2012-2013 budget.

Syosset administrators declined the Tribune’s request for comment, but released a statement concerning the audit.

“The Syosset School District is continuously evaluating its operations and looking for ways to reduce expenditures while maintaining the outstanding programs offered its students,” the statement read. “Over the past three school years, over $16 million in cost reductions have been incorporated into the annual budgets. Maintaining award-winning and innovative programs for students in the most cost-effective and fiscally responsible manner remains the top priority of the district.”

According to the audit, although the district’s total number of administrators was comparable to the average of these three similar districts, Syosset’s total salary costs for these administrators were higher. The district’s total base salary paid to its administrators exceeded the average base salary paid by comparable districts by $827,693 in the 2008-2009 fiscal year and by $384,044 in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

“Syosset ranks in the top tier of districts across Long Island, the state and the country in student achievement,” read the district’s statement. “We are not the highest in any category except in student achievement. In Nassau County, Syosset ranks 28th out of 54 school districts for administrative costs, and 36th out of 54 for administrative costs per pupil.”….

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