Deer Park and North Babylon School Budget Guides

Polls are open Tuesday in Deer Park and North Babylon for residents to cast their votes on proposed school districts' budgets for next school year.

Residents in the Deer Park School District will head to Deer Park High School between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. to give their say on the The proposed budget stays represents a 3.49 percent increase from that of the current school year. 

The district's budget stays within the state's tax levy cap and carries a 2.5 percent tax levy increase. While the baseline number of 2 percent has been used in describing the new tax levy law, this number actually relates to an allowable growth factor, which is one of eight different numbers used to define each school district’s cap. The 2.5 tax levy increase is below the maximum allowable tax levy cap for Deer Park, which is 3.07 percent. 

To avoid staffing and program cuts, the The negotiations saved the district $1.2 million. In addition, teachers have taken advantage of a retirement incentive, which will save an additional $1.5 million.

Residents will also vote to re-elect Board of Education trustees Donna Elliot and Robert Marino.

In North Babylon School District, residents will vote on a  The district will need a 60 percent approval rate, since the proposed budget exceeds the state's limitation.

Patricia Godek, North Babylon school superintendent, said the proposed budget would increase the tax rate for a typical homeowner by $179.75, while “continuing to provide all programs and services for students.”

Budget reductions found amounted to $1.2 million, in transportation and phone lines, plus savings from retirements and funds for an HR director position. However, the district faces obligated increases for teacher and employee retirements, and certain benefits and contractual requirements.

There is also a separate proposition for improvements to what Godek described as an “aging” bus fleet, which would tack on an additional increase of $21.01 for a homeowner with an assessed value of $3,700.  The total cost of the 13 vehicles is $937,530 payable in five annual installments of $187,506.

In addition to the budget, North Babylon School District residents will vote on the re-election of Audrey Jacullo and Salvatore Levanti to the board of education. Jacullo, who is the current vice president, has been on the board for more than a decade. Levanti is completing his first term as a trustee.

North Babylon residents will vote between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. in one of four locations including Marion G. Vedder Elementary School (District 1) Parliament Place Elementary School (District 2) Woods Road Elementary School (District 3) Belmont Elementary School (District 4).