A Guide to B-BP School Budget, BOE Election

Voters in the Bayport-Blue Point School District will go to the polls Tuesday to decide on a proposed $67,156,319 budget for the 2013-2014 school year.

The proposed budget represents a budget increase of 3.74 percent over the current year's spending plan and a 2.99 percent tax levy increase which falls under the district’s allowable limit of 3.61 percent in meeting the state mandated tax levy cap.  

The average annual increase for homeowner tax bills will be about $220, according to district finance leaders.

While there are no cuts to educational programming or extra-curricular activities, the proposal includes a reduction in the number of teacher aides and assistants by 18 positions, not replacing a retiring clerical position and an open custodial position and the removal of a part-time custodial job.

The district is not replacing five of 10 teachers who are retiring this year. It has also reduced the salary line for the district's plant facilities manager who retired last year. That latter reduction represents a savings of approximately $100,000 according to district officials.  

In order to meet the tax cap requirement the district had to cut spending by just under $2 million.  

What to do with the additional aid was a hot button of discussion earlier this year by the board which was divided over whether to put the additional $200,000 of budgeted state aid into reserves, leaving the tax levy at 3.54%, or applying it to reduce the tax levy to 2.99%.  

Voters will also elect board of education members.

There is one contested race: BOE President James March is being challenged by Mike Miller, who is making his second bid for the board.   Incumbent trustee Leonard Camarda is unopposed. Newcomer Anthony Sanseviro is unopposed in his quest for the seat of trustee Molly Licalzi who decided not to seek re-election.  

The budget vote and trustee election will be held at the Bayport-Blue Point High School gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 21.