By JUDY RATTNER
on the school's proposed 2008-09 budget of $88.3 million and the public library's proposed budget of nearly $3 million.
The school spending plan is 4.2 percent larger than the current budget, and includes a tax levy increase of 4.6 percent, which translates to an average tax increase of $381 for district households.
The proposed library budget is a 3.3 percent increase over this year's spending plan. According to library Director Maureen Chiofalo, it would result in a tax increase of $7 to $8 for a house valued at $900,000. Chiofalo described the library budget as "routine," explaining that it covers contractual obligations and health insurance increases. She said that the library board worked very hard to keep the increases to an absolute minimum. Capital improvements including a new fire alarm system will be paid for by library fund reserves and state construction grants. Last year the library upgraded its heating and air conditioning system with state construction grants.
Residents will also vote on races for two vacant trustee seats on the Board of Education and one on the library Board of Trustees. Incumbent Kathy Horace and newcomer Stephen Kriss are running uncontested for the school board, and incumbent Bill Murray is seeking re-election to the seat he has held on the library board for four years.
New to voters this year is Proposition No. 2, asking them to authorize the school district to utilize EXCEL state aid for capital improvements at no cost to taxpayers. EXCEL, which is short for Expanding our Children's Education and Learning, would provide $1.17 million of state funding for specified types of school construction, including education technology, health and safety, physical capacity expansion and energy-related projects.
Among the projects the school district envisions for EXCEL funds are interior and exterior security cameras at every school building, classroom and office heating and ventilation repairs, locker room repairs, classroom ceiling and lighting replacements, door replacements, science lab upgrades, interactive white boards, masonry repairs, bathroom repairs and renovations, sensor-operated faucets and repairs to floor tiles, hallway ceilings, stairwells and auditoriums. If voters were to reject the budget, the district could put it up for a second vote. If it were voted down a second time, the district would be forced to adopt a contingency budget, with a maximum increase of 3.36 percent, which would necessitate an additional $700,000 in cuts. A number of programs and services would be on the chopping block, including community use of facilities, clubs, intramural and interscholastic sports, summer school, the switch to an eight-period day at the middle school, class size caps, high school electives, late bus transportation, music, community education and Arts in Motion.
Voting will take place in the South Side High School gym, at 140 Shepherd St., from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Campus parking will be available. For those who can not get to the polls, see the accompanying box for information about absentee ballots.
Comments about this story ? RVCeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
