Schools

2013 Comsewogue Voter Guide: How Will You Vote?

Your guide to the proposed 2013-14 school budget and related capital fund proposition.

Voters in the Port Jefferson Station and Terryville areas will head to the polls on Tuesday to say “yes” or “no” to the Comsewogue school district’s proposed $81.1 million 2013-14 budget.

When this budget was adopted, assistant superintendent Susan Casali called it “a good budget” that doesn’t eliminate any programs or services. She said it includes funds to address some security needs, replace all automated external defibrillators in the district, fund fall middle school cheerleading and away game scrimmages, and adopt an enhanced student management system.

The school district is also asking its residents for permission to use $276,747 – which it has already collected within the present budget – for a different purpose: supplementing its five-year capital plan to improve safety and security. The move requires voter approval.

Will you vote yes or no? Why? Log in to Patch and tell us in the comments.

Proposition 1: Quick Facts
• Proposed Budget: $81,092,127
• Average Tax Increase for Homeowners: $227
• Tax Levy Increase: 3.8 percent (below cap)
• Year-Over-Year Budget Increase: 3.6 percent

Recent Budget Coverage on Port Jefferson Patch:
Comsewogue School Board Adopts $81.1 Million Budget Proposal
Comsewogue Budget Proposal Won’t Include Cuts, Layoffs

School Board Candidates (vote for two)
Francisca Alabau-Blatter
John Rossini
Chris McCrary
Rob DeStefano

What’s Proposition 2?
• Proposition 2 gives the school district permission to transfer $276,747 from a different section of the present year’s budget to its capital budget in order to help fund future safety and security improvements.
• According to school district documents, “The district is asking to use the funds for a different purpose than originally intended. Therefore the taxpayer must approve the reallocation. The funds will be used for windows, doors, drains, and fresh air ventilation throughout the buildings.”
• Cost to taxpayers: None

Polling Information
• Location: Comsewogue High School gym (565 Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station)
• Vote between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

What if the budget doesn’t pass?
• The school board can choose to put the same budget up for a re-vote at a future date.
• The school board can choose to put up a revised budget at a future date.
• The school board can choose to go right into a contingency budget, which would not increase the tax levy but which would likely cause millions of dollars more in cuts.
• If a budget vote fails twice, the school district automatically is subject to a contingency budget.

View related budget documents on the school district’s website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here