The Farmingdale School District annual budget vote and trustee election will be held on Tuesday, May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Howitt Middle School East Gymnasium.

The changes made by Governor David Paterson to the proposed state aid package for Long Island school districts have resulted in additional state aid being allocated to the Farmingdale School District. With this additional state aid, the proposed tax levy increase for the Farmingdale School District has been lowered to 1.31 percent, the lowest since the 1970s.

Even with this lower cost to the community, the proposed 2008/09 budget maintains all current academic programs and services. The proposed budget (Proposition 1 on the ballot) amount is $138,592,359. Programs and services in the proposed budget include smaller kindergarten through grade two classes and a Wellness Club at the elementary level, continuation of an academic dean to support social/emotional learning and science research activities at the middle school level. The high school will re-open a Green-and-White shop as part of the business curriculum, implement new after-school clubs and offer a broadcast video course.

The proposed budget also provides for continued curriculum development in reading and writing for all four of our elementary schools. The district's elementary and middle level summer school program has been revised to provide a jump-start for students as they begin school in September.

The second proposition on the ballot asks voters to authorize the district's utilization of capital funds remaining from past projects that were completed under budget. Approval of Proposition 2 will have no tax impact on district residents. Projects would include the completion of boiler work throughout the district, HVAC work district-wide, as well as window work at Farmingdale High School.