No Comments Made at East Quogue School Budget Hearing

With only two members of the public present at the East Quogue School District’s budget hearing Tuesday night, Elizabeth Lev, school business administrator, presented the district’s proposed 2011-2012 budget.

The $22 million budget, according to Lev, reflects a 2.97 percent budget-to-budget increase, which she said, translates to a tax levy increase of 5.69 percent.

In dollars, she said the increase equates to an additional $10.21 per 1,000 in assessed value.

The increases, said Lev, are for items that “the board has no control over,” which include teacher retirement costs, health insurance and tuition for students who attend Westhampton Beach.

The district, which educates 415 students, lost about $120,000 in state aid.

Lev said the district was able to keep the budget at bay by refinancing the district’s $6.9 million, 15-year building bond and a boiler project, which Lev said will save the district money in energy costs.

The retirement of five teachers over the past two years also helped keep costs down.

“There is no fat in this budget,” said Mario Cardaci, school board president. 

If the budget is voted down, Lev said, the district would be forced into adopting a contingent budget, which will require the board to cut $331,000 from the budget.

“So don’t forget to vote,” said Cardaci.

Voting will take place on May 17 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the East Quogue Elementary School. Also during the vote, taxpayers will be asked to elect two candidates from a field of three to fill two open school board seats.