By KEITH GRANT
The approved $86.8 million school budget is about 6 percent larger than the current one, while the $2.5 million Long Beach Public Library increases by 8.6 percent.
Also overwhelmingly OKed by voters was a $1.5 million bond to purchase 20 new natural-gas buses, also known as "clean air" buses. With the passage of the bond, the district can now receive $1.7 million in grants to help cover the cost of the vehicles, as well as pay for a new pumping station at the bus depot in Lido to service the environmentally friendly fleet. That station, officials said, would be completed by Dec. 31, while the new buses are expected to arrive by the beginning of the 2004-05 school year.
Districts everywhere faced a difficult task this year in putting together their proposed budgets, with state aid dropping and Nassau County's reassessment drastically altering the tax rate for local communities. Though Long Beach Superintendent Ron Friedman acknowledged that homeowners could likely expect a nearly 10 percent average increase across the district, voters approved the budget, 1,720-1,290. It passed in every election district except the West End, where it was unofficially rejected by a three-vote margin. It passed by wide margins in the East End and Lido.
"It was a very tough year to put together a responsible budget that ensures a fine education for our children," Friedman said. "We knew the state aid was reduced, and yet we have an intelligent and supportive citizenry in Long Beach. They know their future rests on solid education for their children."
Ironically, the 1,290 votes cast against the budget almost exactly matched the average no vote totals of the past 10 years.
As for the new buses, Friedman was thrilled by the voters' support. "This is a great thing for the district," he said. "No other district in New York state, to my knowledge, has done this. It will make the environment in Long Beach a lot more beautiful and safe for everyone."
The district currently has 48 buses in its fleet. Many of those that will remain are in the 6- to 8-year-old range, Friedman said. Of the older ones, some may still prove useful to the district to help bring all four elementary schools on to the same time schedule, Friedman said, which, he added, hasn't happened in 40 years as far as he's aware. More buses than the district currently has are needed to make such a change happen.
"If there's ever a time to do it, this is the time," he said. "And it won't cost a penny."
