Week in Review: Voters Pass $224M School District Budget

Local Volunteer in Moore: '6 Months Ago, This Was Us'
Smithtown resident and Red Cross volunteer, Craig Cooper, describes the scene in tornado struck town of Moore and how he became a volunteer.

Smithtown Dems Pick Town Council Candidates
Smithtown Democrats have chosen Hauppauge prosecutor Adam Halpern and Kings  Park activist Carl Macellaro to run for town council in November.

Taxes Rise in Nissequogue
Tax bills in the tony village of Nissequogue are about to inch higher when the village's new budget takes effect on June 1.

According to Newsday, the new $1.75 million budget comes with a 4.75 percent tax hike, which officials said will help bridge a revenue gap caused by a 44 percent drop in mortgage tax receipts, a rise in state pension costs and a drop in property values cause by successful challenges to tax assessments.

St. James Wave Gas Station Goes Citgo
The gas station at Smitty's Garage on Lake Avenue in St. James has gone from Wave to Citgo.

As of Tuesday, vinyl Citgo logos wrapped the station's sign.

According to one attendant, the switch will mean little to local customers. The station will still operate full service. Only the fuel distributor has changed.

Empty: Smithtown Fish Market Gutted
Add the Smithtown Fish Market to the list of ones that got away in town. After eight years in the Uncle Giuseppe's shopping center on Route 111, the market has closed.

As of Saturday, the market had been emptied out and signs from Gator real estate services company hung in the window.

Going Green Nets Smithtown Library $25K in Energy Savings
An energy efficiency program is expected to net the Smithtown Special Library District  $25,000 in annual savings. 

The program, through a partnership with the Long Island Power Authority is, designed to save money by helping the district to go green and save money, began in 2011-12. 


Smithtown Voters Pass $224M Budget
 Smithtown voters said yes to a $224.38 million school budget for the 2013-14 school year on Tuesday.

The approved budget is an increase of $9.04 million over last year's budget. The 2013-2014 budget cuts include $783,000 in attrition and retirement of district staff, $540,000, through the cancellation of the literacy program, $365,000 in the reduction of five full-time middle school employees. An influx of state aid kept the district from having to pitch deeper cuts to staff and programs.