Community Corner

Voters Pass Southold School Budget

Residents voted "yes" to support Southold's school budget.

Voters in Southold gave the school district’s proposed $28 million 2013-14 budget a green light on Tuesday.

The budget passed by a vote of 718  to 315.

The library vote also passed 743 to 285

Incumbent Judi Fouchet, the only board of education running to  fill her empty seat, received a total of 753 votes.

The budget season was initially fraught with tension, when, at the first budget hearing, the district was faced with a $700,000 gap and the possibiliity of slight cuts in programs.

But the forecast brightened considerably after three weeks, Superintendent David Gamberg said. "What a difference three weeks makes," he said, at the next budget hearing.

The tax levy increase for 2013-2014 is 4.01 percent, and the spending increase is 3.82 percent. 

The budget-to-budget increase for the 2013-2014 budget is 3.94 percent, he said, rather than the almost 6 percent, and a $700,000 gap, that was initially expected.

"We have closed the gap," he said. The district, he added, did not pierce the tax cap levy.

A decision by New York State to reallocate funds to school districts made a "huge" difference, Gamberg said. The original governor's budget had the district set to lose almost $200,000 -- now, the budget is up by $100,000.

In addition, the district was able to obtain $384,000 in savings due to unexpected retirements. The positions of the senior staffers will be replaced at significantly less, Gamberg said. Other cuts to supplies, equipment and professional development were made, to the tune of $65,000, the superintendent added.

As for programs, music staffing was reduced to 5 full-time positions to 4.8 staff members; art was reduced from 2.3 to 2.0. due to one part-time position begin eliminated. "Those small reductions are due to declining enrollment," Gamberg said. "We no longer need that level of staffing."

Kindergarten will remain a full day, Gamberg said. "And electives and extra-curricular activities remain fully intact. "The district will still share a play with the Greenport school district and will look for ways to share other technology, athletics, and intramural events."

In recent weeks, the Southold PTA has put signs up around town, urging residents to vote "yes" on Tuesday.


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