by Jerry Burke
While Long Islands schools saw one out of every six school budgets fail, voters who spoke to the Herald afterward for the most part agreed that the budgets, while hitting them in the pocketbook, were fair and necessary. "Some things went up, but under the circumstances, its good," said Debbie Terrase of Franklin Square. "It's unfortunate that we didn't get as much state aid as we expected."
"It worth it to the community to cover the increases," said Catherine Daniels of Franklin Square. "It would only have a negative affect on the children if we don't."
In Elmont, the only contested school board seat in the area went overwhelmingly to incumbent board president Deanna Doreson, who defeated challenger Dale A. Black-Pennington for the three-year term by a margin of 1418 to 422.
Elmont voters passed their elementary school budget by a vote of 1066 in favor, 744 against. The 2002-2003 school year operating budget of $46,829,585 represents an increase of 9.1 percent, with a 23.6 percent increase in tax levies, up to a $32,979,585 tab for taxpayers. The average resident in Elmont will pay an additional $6.97 per $100 of assessed valuation.
By a vote of 1013 in favor, 620 against, the Franklin Square Union Free School District Board of Education passed its $22,472,765 budget, which reflects an estimated tax increase of $1.98 per $100 of assessed valuation.
The sum marks a 4.8 percent increase over last year's budget. Tax levies will account for $16,047,232 of the budget, an increase of just over 7 percent from last year. The district itself has a projected increase in enrollment of just over 3 percent.
The Sewanhaka Central High School District, which includes Elmont Memorial High School, Sewanhaka High School and H. Frank Carey High School, saw its budget of $101,000,000 pass by a vote of 2960 in favor, 2188 against.
The new budget reflects an estimated tax increase of $2.34 per $100 of assessed valuation. The modest 4.2 percent increase over last year's budget includes standard increases including preparation for a projected 2 percent increase in enrollment. Tax levies will account for $81,427,655 of the total, a 7.9 percent increase for taxpayers over last year.
At the West Hempstead School District, voters approved their 6.56 percent increase from last year by a vote of 854 in favor, 553 against. Expenditures for the budget amount to $38,013,036. The tax rate will jump 9.3 percent, requiring taxpayers to cover $26,084,323 of the budget. West Hempstead's projected increase in enrollment is small at only 0.6 percent.
Overall tax levies will be adjusted, however, as the state continues to ponder new aid packages for the schools. With the passing of the state budget last week, Assemblyman Tom Alfano announced that the Franklin Square School District would receive $1,645,515 in additional aid, while Elmont will get $867,000, West Hempstead $528,016 and Sewanhaka $1,098,635. Addition money could be forthcoming, either in the form of direct aid or tax rebates to property owners. The levy adjustments will take affect once the budgets enacted.
Valley Stream Central High School District's new budget of $64,970,740 (a 5.36 percent increase for last year) passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 2061 in favor, 1088 against. The Valley Stream School District #13 budget of $27,365,155 (a 9.7 percent increase) also passed, 936 in favor, 508 against.
Voters in the Malverne School District also approved the new budget of $31,494,671 by a vote of 864 in favor, 697 against.
With school board races going largely uncontested throughout the area, Franklin Square's Jean Fichtl (1017 votes), Elmont's Aubrey Phillips (1224 votes) and West Hempstead's Pamela Lotito (892 votes) and Vincent Trocchia (887 votes) will continue to serve their respective districts.
In Valley Stream School District #13, incumbents Frank Chiachiere (1010 votes), Valerie Clerico (925 votes) and Cathy Subbiondo (919 votes) will return.
The West Hempstead Public Library budget passed with 836 in favor and 525 opposed. Incumbent library board member Andrea Dee Giordano defeated challenger Madeleine E. Schwartz by a vote of 886 to 330.
The Elmont Public Library budget passed by a vote of 1132 in favor, 463 opposed. Both unopposed board members Cheryl E. Lee (1206 votes) and David Osborn (1167 vote) will return.
Liz McBreen contributed to this story.
