Farmingdale residents will vote on a pared-down school budget when they go back to the polls on June 20. The Board of Education has eliminated more than $320,000 from its initial spending plan in their proposed $85,954,668 budget. The estimated property tax levy increase which was 6.98 percent is significantly lower. The board was able to make necessary cuts without severely affecting its new academic programs, say school officials.

Under the revised budget, the effect on the tax rate was successfully reduced to an average estimated 5.8 percent, a number several school officials wanted to aim for although enrollment continues to climb and is expected to reach 6,388 in September.

This was primarily done by reducing the number of capital projects it will undertake during the next academic year and by utilizing an unexpected increase in state aid to reduce taxes by more than $628,000.

Should the budget go down again, the district will have no choice but to go on to an austerity budget and be forced by law to reduce or eliminate services and programs in areas such as new instructional and non-instructional equipment. According to school officials, all new technology equipment will have to be eliminated as well as adult education, extra-curricular and athletic activities and field trips. By law, the district will be required to charge outside organizations, such as the Youth Council, Farmingdale Care, PAL, lacrosse, basketball, Boy and Girl Scouts for the use of facilities. Because of the capping requirement legally imposed by austerity, reductions are likely in staff, textbooks and supplies. Transportation programs remain in place under austerity.

The Board of Education proposed an $85,954,668 budget for the year 2000-2001, which included a spending increase of 6.98 percent. The original proposed budget was higher, and included a spending increase of 8.26 percent. Administrators pared down equipment and staff retirements.

Salaries of 13 new teachers and contractual salaries for existing ones were included in the proposed budget. Increasing enrollment, along with new state standards and assessments were worked into the proposed budget, as well as technological advancement.

In the district's budget brochure, administrators illustrated estimated enrollment increases as a reason for the slight increase. According to administrators, enrollment will continue to grow by an estimated 1.9 percent to 6,388. They also said that the curriculum would be enhanced in all buildings to include after school academic enrichment programs so students can meet new state standards.

Increased staff is needed to enhance reading, math and English as a second language skills in elementary schools. In the high school, administrators wanted to improve English, math, social studies, technology and science support lab programs, by adding more teachers.

The budget also included over $2 million in capital projects, which will be cut back with the new budget. Among them were window replacement, electrical upgrades, lighting replacement and heating/ventilation work.

Farmingdale is one of 19 districts Islandwide whose budget was defeated. Other Nassau County districts that had their budget turned down included; Glen Cove, Longwood, Roosevelt, Westbury, Amityville, Port Washington, Malverne and Herricks. Overall budgets increased about six to eight percent.

Local districts, such as the Massapequa District, was able to pass their budget, whereas Plainedge residents rejected their $40 million proposed budget.