Freeport school district

Students at Leo F. Giblyn School with Enviroman, a conceptual... — Students at Leo F. Giblyn School with Enviroman, a conceptual superhero who taught them about the importance of keeping their school and community environmentally sound. Credit: Freeport school district

By Jim MerrittSpecial to NewsdayMay 11, 2016

VOTING

6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Archer Street School, Bayview Avenue School of Arts and Sciences, Leo F. Giblyn School, Columbus Avenue Early Childhood Center, Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School and the Albany Avenue Field House.

THE BUDGET

The district proposes a $170,138,538 school budget for 2016-17, a 1.8 percent increase over the current $167,132,054. The tax levy would decrease by 0.09 percent, from $87,203,940 to $87,125,440.

This decrease is equal to the district’s tax-cap limit, so a simple majority vote will be required to approve the budget.

The dollar amount of the school tax paid on a single-family house would decrease by 0.03 percent, from $6,891 to $6,889.

The proposed budget includes a 0.5 percent contractual raise plus a one-half step increase, for an average 1.7 percent increase for teachers. It would add 7.5 teachers, 10 teaching assistants, one psychologist and one clerical worker.

A proposition asks voters to authorize spending $1.5 million on capital-reserve fund projects, which include completing renovation of the Freeport High School auditorium, bathroom renovations and window and ceiling replacements throughout district schools.