The Kings Park Board of Education unanimously adopted a $82,874,728 budget for 2013-14 school year on Tuesday, representing a 2.53 percent increase over last year’s budget and will impose a tax levy increase of 3.5 percent if passed.
If the budget does not pass, the board has the opportunity to present residents with a new budget or present the same budget to be voted upon again. If residents reject the budget for a second time a contingent budget would be put in place.
The tax levy is the measure by which the general tax is imposed. The tax rate is the amount of tax paid for each increment ($1,000) of assessed property value. Taxpayers with an average assessed home value of $6,000 can expect to pay a yearly increase of $267.86, which equates to $22.32 monthly.
“I think this is a budget that is a product of a lot of discussion and public input, which started back in December,” said board trustee Tom Locascio. "We started with a $2 million deficit and worked tirelessly as a board, collectively and individually, going line by line to find money. It isn't a perfect budget, but it is a good and fair budget, and I encourage everyone in the community to support it.”
Early on in the budget process, the board made a commitment not to cut programs and instead, raise class sizes in order to keep programs such as sports, music and academics in place.
"We made some tough decisions as a board," said board president, Marie Goldstein. "I think we stayed within resources and we have a sound budget. We are looking forward to passing the budget on behalf of the students and the community."
Residents can vote on the budget on May 21 between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the back gym in the Kings Park High School.
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