Breaking Down the 2012-13 Budget: Miller Place

School Budget votes are just days away, and on May 15 residents will flock to the polls. Throughout the next few days, Patch will break down the budget of each local school district.

The newly installed New York State tax levy cap adds a new wrinkle to school budgets this year. Districts are not allowed to increase the tax levy by over two percent (exact number varies per district), and if they do, the budget can only pass by a supermajority of 60 percent.

Miller Place residents will vote on a $64,954,995 budget, an increase of 1.09 percent from the current school year. The budget remains within the tax levy cap, which comes out to 2.96 percent, a total allowable levy of $41,300,365. State Aid is projected at $18,332,434, an increase of $984,480 or 5.67 percent.

After the threat of major cuts to extracurricular activities and athletics, concessions and other factors brought restorations and no clubs or athletic teams will be cut. A reduction of athletic uniforms at $10,620 is all that remains in this department.

After the originally proposed 22.5 faculty position reductions, the final number sits at 16.7. The biggest staffing reductions come at the Elementary level (5.0 positions) and the Business department (4.4).

All budget presentations can be found on the district's website.

In addition to the budget, residents will vote on a library contract and Board of Education elections. Miller Place has just one seat up for election, and incumbent Michael Unger will be running unopposed. The projected 2012-'13 library contract would be an increase of 11.54 percent ($2,040,419) over the current contract.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Gymnasium.

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