Supermajority needed for school budget

Voters will be presented two propositions on May 19

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For the first time since the inception of the state tax-levy cap in 2011, the East Meadow School District’s proposed budget for 2015-16 will require a supermajority — 60 percent of the vote — to be approved on May 19.

Two propositions will be on the ballot, a budget that includes full-day kindergarten, and one that does not. Though only the proposition with full-day kindergarten will pierce the state tax levy cap, both measures will require supermajority approval, as directed by the New York State Education Department, said Superintendent Louis DeAngelo.

No existing programs, services or staff members would be cut in either budget proposal.

Proposition One, DeAngelo said, maintains the half-day kindergarten program the district has now. It totals $192.8 million, and has a tax levy of $136.3 million — a 2.13 percent increase, the highest the district could go under the tax levy cap, DeAngelo said.

Proposition Two, which totals $195.8 million, is identical, with the exception of expanded, full-day kindergarten. Its tax levy is $137.5 million, a 3.02 percent increase that pierces the state cap.

Proposition Two would require residents to forfeit their tax rebates for 2015-16, in accordance with State Education Department requirements for school districts that pierce the cap.

A call to the department seeking further explanation had not been returned as of press time.

If voters want full-day kindergarten, they must vote “yes” on both propositions, DeAngelo explained. Those who wish to maintain the half-day program must vote “yes” on Proposition One and “no” on Proposition Two. If both pass, Proposition Two will be adopted, he said.

If neither proposition is approved by a supermajority, the district will have to revise the budget. DeAngelo added that a revised spending proposal that does not pierce the cap would no longer require a supermajority.

Last year, 77 percent of voters approved the 2014-15 budget.

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