On its second attempt, the 2005/2006 school budget originally proposed in May of $122,028,214 passed by a vote of 2,200 - 2,164.

The budget reflects a 6.46 percent increase in spending. By applying the full amount of the anticipated extra state aid, the tax levy is now down to 5 percent, which is a reduction of one percent. All of the programs that were proposed originally will be in place next school year.

Assistant Superintendent for Business John Lorentz said the district was grateful for the continued community support. Farmingdale has never been on a contingency budget and according to Lorentz, they hope to never be.

"We recognize, as indicated by the only 36 vote difference in the election that the tax burden is sizable for people and they are having difficulty with it," Lorentz explained. "We always try to put together a frugal budget, balancing the economics with the program and we will continue to do that."

Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale President Mike Grello said he doesn't think the tax levy on a contingency budget would have been much less than 5 percent.

"And look at all that the children would lose on contingency," Grello added. "The number of school districts that will operate next year on a contingency budget is a record high (21 as of today), the most since 1999, when the state adopted the two-vote limit. Our school board has to find ways to make cuts that don't hurt the children, this runaway train on school taxes has to stop. We have three new faces on the school board, let's see if they can stop that runaway train."