100 Things to Do in Smithtown: #87 - Vote on the School Budget

A month since the proposed school budget was adopted by the Board of Education, the time for parents and taxpayers to vote is just 24 hours away.

May 17 marks the date that you, a Smithtown resident, have the opportnity to vote "yes" or "no" on the proposed budget as well as decide who you want to sit on the board, where three seats are open to five candidates, and a transportation referrendum that will increase the distances children will have to live to get bus service.

The board adopted the proposed $212.4 million budget on Tuesday, April 12. The proposed budget comes with a 4.92 percent tax levy and is $3 million less than the contingent budget, totaling $215,307,048.

To get the budget to $212.4 million, reductions came in the form of increasing elementary class sizes, reducing physical education for grades six and seven, a 10 percent reduction in athletics, the termination of one central office administrator and more.

Category: Schools, Economy

Price: Free

Season: Affects taxpayers and parents year round.

Note: You have choices to make, head over to the polls to make them.

Stay tuned for #86 next Tuesday at noon.