The time has arrived for Wantagh and Seaford residents to decide their school budget proposals.
In addition to proposed spending plans being on the ballot, Wantagh voters will also be deciding between seven school board candidates vying for two seats. The Seaford school board election is uncontested.
Below is a breakdown of what is at stake in both local districts.
Proposed Budgets
Wantagh’s proposed
$74.2 million spending plan is a 3.4 percent increase over the district’s current 2012/13 budget. The tax levy, which represents the percentage of the budget that must be raised in taxes in order to meet expenses, would rise 2.79 percent if approved. The district was permitted to raise its tax levy by 3.71 percent under a new state tax cap law approved two years ago by Albany lawmakers, but opted to go with a lower number.
Despite only a small increase, the budget plan has
no programmatic cuts and also includes funding for expanding to a full-day kindergarten. The district is receiving $554,580 from the state for the first year of the full-day kindergarten program.
Seaford’s
proposed $60.4 million spending plan represents a 4.58 percent increase from the district's current 2012/13 budget. The tax levy increase of 3.59 percent is the maximum the district was allowed under the state’s tax cap law.
Seaford entered the 2013/13 budget process faced with plugging a $2.3 million shortfall caused by the tax cap and having
a 2 percent drop in state aid. The original budget proposal adopted April 18 included slashing 8.8 full-time equivalent teaching positions at Seaford Middle School and reducing to an eight period day. However, these cuts
were placed back in the budget after the board of education was able to strike an agreement with the United Teachers of Seaford to have the union take a pay freeze for one year.
School Board ElectionsSeven Wantagh school board candidates are vying for two seats. These candidates include incumbent Trustee
William Russack; Wantagh SEPTA Co-President
Kera McLoughlin; Wantagh Foundation for Education Excellence Executive Director
Ralph Spagnolo, 2012 Wantagh High School graduate
Peter Mountanos; retired New York City Police Department detective
Michael Costello; Certified Public Accountant
David Hoffman and
Donald Lang, director of athletics for the North Shore School District. Incumbent Trustee Jean Quinn
decided not to seek reelection.
The Seaford school board race is uncontested with incumbent trustees Bruce Kahn and Jeanmarie Wink running for the two open seats. Kahn is seeking his second term after first being elected in 2010. Wink, who is principal at East Broadway Elementary School in the Levittown School District, was
appointed to the school board in October 2011. Voting DetailsVoting in Wantagh is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Wantagh Elementary School, Forest Lake Elementary School and Mandalay Elementary School. Voting in Seaford will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Seaford Harbor School and Seaford Manor School.
