Comsewogue School Board Adopts New Lower Budget For Revote

The Comsewogue School Board adopted a $78.3 million budget for a revote on Monday night, according to a report in Newsday. The new budget will come in at the New York State tax cap, requiring a simple majority to pass.

In May, to garner the required 60 percent supermajority vote to institute a tax cap-piercing budget that sought to raise the tax levy by 4.5 percent. The newly adopted budget comes with , within state law according to Assistant Superintendent of Business Susan M. Casali.

With a new budget comes a plan to save the district money. To cut costs, the district proposed to reorganize its four elementary schools into a . Under this reorganization, each school is no longer composed of grades K through 5 but are grouped to hold entire class grades with students “graduating” to another building midway through their elementary school careers.

The plan will save the district about $1 million according to Casali.

Click here to . Then read our about how the plan will affect the students and parents.

According to the Newsday story, the adopted budget cuts about 23 full-time positions, including 21 teachers, and 10 part-time aides.

A vote on the new budget will take place on June 19.

Other Highlights of the 2.6 Percent Budget:

• Average cost to homeowner: $185.00 per year
• Secondary class size average: 25 (based on enrollment and course selection)
• Continuation of a complete extracurricular and athletic program
• Continuation of security services

Impact of Budget Failure:

If the budget of June 19 fails, the district must adopt a budget at 0 percent tax levy increase. If the district adopts this budget, the following cuts will occur:

• Kindergarten or half day Kindergarten
• Close an elementary school
• Class sizes will be increased to contractual maximum
• Reconfiguration of remaining 3 buildings (Similar to Princeton Model)
• No extracurricular activities
• No athletic programs
• No security
• Severe reductions of electives on the secondary level
• No evening activities
• No community use of the buildings

Get local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.