Yesterday, May 19th 2015, Smithtown residents headed out to the polls, to vote on the 2015-1016 Smithtown School District Budget. The budget for next year included less than a 1% increase based on the current year’s budget with a tax levy increase of 2.215%, which is the allowable increase under the tax levy cap law. Both the 2015-1016 Budget and Proposition 2; the Capital Reserve Fund, were approved by a 70% admission rating.
The 2015-2016 budget will maintain all instructional programs, such as Advanced Placement courses, fine arts programming, athletics, vital school electives and popular extracurricular clubs and activities. In addition to valuable curriculum remaining intact, Smithtown School Staff will be reapportioned to bring back High School programs, fulfill new regulations and implement additional mathematics assistance at Elementary and Middle School levels. Additional objectives built into the budget, will focus on early literacy development and sustaining progress throughout middle school, high school, college and beyond.
Understanding Proposition 2:
Seven years ago, Smithtown voters approved a capital reserve fund for the use of potential or necessary projects to improve or repair district buildings and basic facility maintenance. The 2008 reserve fund has expired. Proposition 2 allows Smithtown School District to create a new fund, which will not exceed $15 million, plus investment income over the course of ten years. Proposition 2 will permit repairs, maintenance and improvements throughout facilities, to occur without costing taxpayers additional increases. Potential projects such as locker replacement, field surface rehabilitation, system upgrades and ceiling, flooring or roofing replacements, would be promoted and voted on prior to the use of capital reserves.