Schools
2013 Southold Voter Guide: How Will You Vote?
Will you vote "yes" for the Southold school district's 2013-2014 budget on Tuesday?
Voters in Southold will head to the polls on Tuesday to say “yes” or “no” to the school district’s proposed $28 million 2013-14 budget.
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."
One board member, incumbent Judi Fouchet, is up for re-election for the one open seat in the uncontested race.
The school budget vote will take place Tuesday in the Southold High School gymnasium from 3 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
In recent weeks, the Southold PTA has put signs up around town, urging residents to vote "yes" on Tuesday.
What if the budget doesn’t pass?
• 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 a contingency budget, which would not increase the tax levy but which would likely cause millions of dollars more in cuts.
• If a budget vote fails twice, the school district automatically is subject to a contingency budget.
View related budget documents on the school district’s website.
Recent Patch articles on the budget process:
http://northfork.patch.com/groups/schools/p/school-superintendent-we-have-closed-the-gap
http://northfork.patch.com/groups/schools/p/school-board-poised-to-adopt-budget-wednesday
http://northfork.patch.com/groups/schools/p/signs-of-school-budget-vote-springing-up
http://northfork.patch.com/groups/schools/p/during-school-budget-season-southold-pta-urges-reside3d1...
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