By: Nicole Falco
Residents cast 1,077 ballots against the $31.7 million budget, which reflected a 9.9 percent increase over the current budget, compared with 1,030 votes in favor of the budget. The narrow margin was enough to send a message to the district, and force it to re-examine its spending plan. The elementary budget called for an average tax increase of $351.
It was very close, so that does mean there is support for the programs, said Dr. Liz Lison, District 13-s superintendent of schools. While there is a lot of support, there was a message sent [and] we-re going to be exploring that.
Lison planned to meet with the Board of Education Wednesday night to discuss the district-s next steps. The district must decide if it will present the same budget to residents for a revote, or if it will amend its proposal. A revote would likely take place in mid-June. If the district-s proposal were to be rejected again, the district would be forced to operate on a contingency budget. The district can also choose to forgo a revote and operate on a contingency budget, which would only allow a 2.76 percent increase over the current budget. By operating on contingency, the district would likely have to make numerous cuts to its staff and programs.
Lison is disappointed that the budget failed. However, considering the tough economic climate all around, Lison said, It-s understandable that [voters] take [their fustration] out on us, because we-re the one place they can.
Voters also defeated District 13-s transportation proposal. Of the 2,149 ballots cast, 50.5 percent were against changing the current transportation eligibility requirements. Students in kindergarten through third grade are eligible to be bused if they live more than a half mile from their school. The proposal called for the mileage requirement to be increased to one mile. Lison said the defeat of the budget may have been linked to the community-s desire to maintain its current transportation policy.
High School District budget
District 13 voters also cast 1,114 votes, or 53.2 percent of ballots, against the Central High School District budget, but thanks to overwhelming support in District 30 and marginal support in District 24, the $75.97 million budget carried. It reflects a 9.78 percent increase over the current budget. District 13 homeowners will see an average tax increase of $442 on the high school portion of their tax bill.
In District 30, the high school budget passed by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Approximately 68 percent of the 785 votes cast were in favor of the budget. District 30-s homeowners can expect an average tax increase of $238 at the high school level. In District 24 the high school budget passed with approximately 54 percent of the 990 votes cast. District 24 homeowners will see an average increase of $260 on their tax bills for the high school district.
We are delighted to have received the support of the community, said Dr. Marc F. Bernstein, high school superintendent. With an approved budget, we are able to move forward aggressively to implement the changes that are required to meet the needs of our students.
Bernstein said he understands why many voters in District 13 cast ballots against the high school budget. One can understand the pressure residents in the community feel in terms of the increased taxes over the past two years and the tough decisions people have to make, he said. Once again, we-re very appreciative that the majority of voters supported our efforts.
District 24
In District 24, the $20.6 million elementary budget, which reflects an 11.56 percent increase, was approved by 54.6 percent of voters. There were 1,028 ballots cast in District 24; the budget passed by 94 votes. In addition to an increase in their high school taxes, homeowner will see an average increase of $255 on their elementary tax bill.
We-re very appreciative of the support of our community for continuing the high quality of education that is complemented by a variety of outstanding programs, said Dr. Edward Fale, District 24-s superintendent of schools.
Fale said the narrow margin came as no surprise, but added, This is a highly supportive community that cares about the children and the future generations, and recognizes that education is the key to the future of our children-s lives.
District 30
Voters approved the $20.6 million budget proposed in District 30, an 8.24 percent increase. Of the 844 ballots cast, 67.7 percent were in favor of the elementary budget.
District 30 voters also approved the proposition to purchase 44 percent of the 175 N. Central Avenue building, where the district-s administrative office is located. The purchase price is approximately $550,000, but will not cost taxpayers any additional money, since the district already had money set aside in its general fund account for the purchase.
School board seats
There were no contested school board elections this year. Incumbents Bonnie Gorham and Anthony Lombardo won re-election in District 13. Gorham received 1,135 votes; Lombardo received 1,177. In District 30, incumbent Walter Nesbeth III garnered 540 votes. In District 24, incumbents Anthony Iadevaio, Frank Nuara and Lawrence Trogel each won re-election. Iadevaio garnered 770 votes, Frank Nuara 724 and Trogel 708.
