Huntington Residents Go to the Polls on Tuesday
Voters will go to the polls in the Huntington School District on Tuesday (May 19) to decide the fate of the proposed school budget and a capital proposition and to elect three candidates to the School Board. Polls will be open in the Huntington High School lobby from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The proposed spending plan, which totals $104,814,259, carries an estimated tax rate increase of 2.89 percent. In an effort to hold down taxes, the budget approved by trustees eliminates 16.4 full time equivalent positions and includes various other reductions to virtually every aspect of district operations.
Residents weigh-in on a plan that increases spending by 1.16 percent over the current year. While the budget is a tight one, school officials said it does provide funding for dozens of popular programs and retains the core of what makes the district special.
“What is most impressive is that while keeping costs down, we continue to offer the outstanding educational program expected by our community,” School Board President Bill Dwyer said.
If the plan is passed, the tax rate is projected to increase from $190.46 per $100 of assessed valuation to $195.96. An average home assessed at $4,000 would see a $220 tax increase before STAR program savings are applied.
School officials believe the proposed budget will keep in place an exceptional educational program for all students. It allocates $527,811 for new textbooks and workbooks and $56,614 for additional library books. Another $85,000 is provided for new computer software, $95,528 is devoted to new instructional equipment, including computers and $60,808 will go toward purchasing equipment for the buildings and grounds department.
The budget adopted by trustees funds 64 athletic teams and 94 coaching positions and about six dozen extracurricular clubs for students in grades 4-12. It provides for marching bands and drama clubs at the middle school and high school, a science research program, college counseling center, specialized art classes, an array of Regents, honors and Advancement Placement courses, a full program for students with special needs, funding for academic competitions, an arts-in-education program, student council organizations and extended high school library hours.
The budget also allows for authorized community groups to continue utilizing district buildings and facilities for practices, games, meetings and performances.
During initial budget planning extensive spending reductions were made. Despite these efforts, the district is faced with significant increases for programs for student transportation ($781,270), students with disabilities ($546,271), employee health insurance ($310,484), student transportation ($489,789) and unemployment insurance ($119,465).
Mr. Dwyer said the budget “maintains our historically strong academic program and a broad range of extra-curricular offerings to benefit all students.”
“The budget is balanced and doesn’t rely on smoke-and-mirrors or unreasonable expectations,” Mr. Finello said. The plan assumes the total assessed property value will decline by $659,890 due to property tax grievances, dropping from $46,359,890 to $45,700,000. If those values come in higher than projected, trustees will be in a position to lower the projected tax increase when they enact the final levy early next fall.
Capital Projects
Trustees are also seeking authorization to release monies held in the district’s Building Improvement Fund to pay for projects that include: Installation of new exterior cafeteria doors at Jefferson Primary School where none currently exist and accessibility improvements in the school’s bathrooms related to the Americans with Disabilities Act ($235,000), installation of new exterior cafeteria doors where none currently exist at Flower Hill, Washington and Southdown primary schools ($87,000) and installation of special auditorium area safety smoke doors at Huntington High School, which will help create a distinct smoke free zone ($46,000). The projects were requested by the State Education Department as safety measures.
If voters approve release of the funds on May 19, taxes will not increase since the monies are already in place and no new revenues will be required. The funds represent dollars already provided to the district by taxpayers that weren’t needed to pay for regular school operations because of tight fiscal management and economizing.
School Board
Elizabeth Black, Kimberly Brown, Bari Fehrs, Emily Rogan and Judith Thompson are on the ballot for seats on the Huntington School Board. The top three finishers will be elected and serve three-year terms stretching from July 1 through June 30, 2012.
Voter Eligibility
To vote in the election, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, a resident of the Huntington School District for at least 30 days and registered to vote in a general election or with the school district.
Absentee Ballots
Applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the District Clerk’s office at the Administrative Offices, 50 Tower Street, Huntington Station, at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or up to the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 for them to be counted in the 2009 election and budget vote.
For information on voter eligibility or absentee ballots contact District Clerk Elizabeth Troffa at 673-2126.
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