North Bellmore schools budget passes on second try

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The North Bellmore School District’s $57.2 million budget passed easily on Tuesday, as 64 percent of voters supported the spending plan — which was reduced by $75,000 after the budget initially failed to pass in May.

The second round of voting came about via unusual circumstances.

A majority of voters initially supported the spending plan, but that wasn’t enough for it to pass. Because of a voter-petitioned ballot item that would have expanded busing for public school students — at a cost of $610,000 — the spending plan would have pierced the state property-tax cap. The district’s proposed budget alone was within the tax cap, with a tax levy 3.4 percent larger than the current year’s.

Even though the transportation measure failed to pass, the budget still needed a 60 percent supermajority’s support to pass, according to Mark Schissler, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. It received 51.8 percent.

On Tuesday, only the budget was up for a vote, and a simple majority was all that was needed for passage.

"On behalf of the Board of Education and administration, I would like to thank the community for supporting our 2018/19 school budget," said Superintendent Marie Testa. "The process was lengthy this year, but with our community’s continued support of our schools and students, we will be able to maintain our robust and challenging educational program."