2013 Kings Park Voter Guide: How Will You Vote?

 Voters in Kings Park will head to the polls on Tuesday to say “yes” or “no” to the Kings Park school district’s proposed $82,874,728, 2013-14 budget.

The proposed budget represents a 2.53 percent increase over last year’s budget and will impose a tax levy increase of 3.5 percent, if passed, which is under the state cap.

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.

Included in the budget is the purchase of one new bus and one new van. Voters will notice a separate proposition regarding the purchase of the buses. According to Kings Park District Superintendent, Susan Agruso, voters must give separate authorization to purchase the buses, and sais residents should be clear; this is not an additional expense that they are voting on.

Will you vote yes or no? Why? Log in to Patch and tell us in the comments.

Proposition 1: Quick Facts

• Proposed budget: $82,874,728 
• Average annual tax increase for homeowners: $267.86 
• Tax Levy Increase: 3.5 percent (below cap) 
• Year–Over-Year Budget Increase: 2.53 percent

• Proposition 2 gives the school district permission to purchase one bus and one van, with the principal cost not to exceed $170,000 and to be financed over 5 years. According to Agruso, the purchase of the buses is not a separate $170,000 charge.

• Board of Ed Candidates Square Off in a Question and Answer Session
• New Buses Included in 2013-14 Kings Park School Budget
• Kings Park Schools Adopt $82M Budget

• Polls will be open on Tuesday from 6 a.m.- 9 p.m. 
• Location: Kings Park High School rear gymnasium.  

• The school board can choose to put the same budget up for a re-vote at a future date. 
• The school board can choose to put up a revised budget at a future date.
• The school board can choose to go right into an austerity budget, which would not increase the tax levy, but which would likely cause million of dollars more in cuts. 
• If a budget vote fails twice, the school district automatically is subject to an austerity budget.