Bellmore board OKs 2010-11 budget

The Bellmore Board of Education last week approved a budget of nearly $31 million for 2010-11. The spending plan, if approved by residents in May, would allow for a 2.97 percent increase over the current spending plan, with a tax levy increase of 3.96 percent. The administration has yet to release how the proposed budget would affect individual taxpayers' bills.

At the April 20 Board of Education Meeting, Deirdre Gambino, the assistant superintendent for business, also recommended that the board approve the district’s participation in the Nassau County Directors of School Facilities Purchasing Consortium Cooperative Bids. The agreement includes 35 districts that cooperatively bid for the lowest prices for numerous facilities services, repair services, materials and supplies. The board unanimously approved this item. The board also unanimously approved the Inter-Municipal Cooperative Transportation Bid. This allows Bellmore School District to join with other public school districts in Nassau to jointly solicit proposals with the Nassau Board of Cooperative Educational Services for pupil transportation services.

Trustee Jay Breakstone noted that Bellmore has taken part in cooperative agreements for a number of years. "We just by nature always have cooperative bids," he said.

The board also approved the tenure of Phinola Baeza, Lauren Bencivenga, John Dolan, Katy O’Bier, Jeannette Reilly and Theresa Wallace.

The public will vote on the budget on May 18 at Shore Road Elementary School from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. To inform the public about details of the budget, the administration will conduct a public hearing at Shore Road Elementary School on May 4 at 8 p.m.

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