Schools
Port Jefferson School Budget Voter's Guide
On Tuesday, Port Jefferson residents head out to vote and we've got the facts to get you prepped.
The Long Island Power Authority power plant looms large over the budget plans at Port Jefferson School District.
Superintendent Ken Bossert has said that with the unknown outcome of the , there's no way to realistically factor in that variable, unless you consider the worst case.
Bossert said that the current budget is built with moving parts to help offset some costs if the worst does happen, slashing almost 40 percent of the revenue from the district.
Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
One-time expenditures like capital improvements can be put off if needed. In addition, last year’s budget had no increase in spending but an increase of almost 9 percent on the tax levy, allowing the school to run as it had done in the past.
The reserve had a balance of $4,526,936, as of June 2011. That money, according to Assistant Superintendent for Business Sean Leister, can be used to help buffer the impact of an anticipated decrease in tax revenue.
Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Excluding Fire Island, . That could also change if LIPA is successful in its tax grievance, .
To help mitigate the pain for homeowners, this year's adopted budget that is up for vote on Tuesday sticks to the New York State tax cap of a maximum 2 percent tax levy increase.
In additon to a budget, voters will get to pick from .
Some highlights from the Port Jefferson School Budget:
- Tax levy increase is 2 percent. (Within the New York State tax cap.)
- The , a 1.85 percent increase from last year's budget.
- Moving from a saves $600,000.
- Realignment of the elementary school saves another $450,000 in the budget, coming from staffing cuts and increases to class sizes.
- The third biggest area where savings are realized in the proposed budget is in transportation by reducing the number of routes from 10 to nine, saving $100,000.
- Other areas of savings include eliminating equipment upgrades to the school lunch program ($50,000), cutting overnight field trips ($20,000) and not inviting guest speakers to the Superintendent Conference Day ($5,000).
- On the expense side, a major cost came from capital improvements, budgeted for $740,000 in the next school year.
- Equipment purchases of $155,000 are budgeted for grounds and maintenance to replace a broken down custodial use vehicle, a 30-year old industrial lawnmower, buffer and waxing machines and $30,000 for computer network upgrades.
- The school than it did last year. The final amount the district received was $3,055,913.
- The school budget proposal is available on the school district’s website for review.
Port Jefferson School District voters will have a choice of five candidates running for three open seats on the school board.
- Incumbent Board President and Board Member will attempt to reclaim their seats on the board.
- Board Member Lauren Hubbard will not seek re-election.
- , , and are also running for school board.
Click on the names above to read a Q&A with each candidate.
Voting on the school budget and for the school board will take place on Tuesday, May 15 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the cafeteria at .
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