Voting on the Hicksville School District's proposed 2002-2003 spending plan and election of school board trustees will take place on Tuesday, May 21 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Burns Avenue, Dutch Lane, East Street, Fork Lane, Lee Avenue, Old County Road and Woodland Schools.

At this time, residents will have the opportunity to vote for or against the district's proposed spending plan to $74,273,536. The 2002-2003 budget, which also includes the allocation of funds for the Gregory Museum, is a 5.37 percent or $3,882,365 increase over the current year's budget of $70,441,171.

There will be two propositions on the ballot in this year's budget/trustee vote. Proposition #1 relates to the district's proposed 2002-2003 spending plan and is broken down into three components - Administrative, Program and Capital. The proposed 2002-2003 costs are $688,531, $2,520,304 and $623,530, respectively, resulting in the $3,832,365 increase over last year's spending plan.

Of the budget's total, only $7,829,668 or 11 percent is expected to be offset by state aid. As a result, the district's tax rate is expected to increase by $3.78 per $100 of assessed valuation or 8 percent. Last year, the estimated tax rate was $47.19 per $100 of assessed valuation whereas this year, the estimated rate could be $50.97 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Also included in the budget is a second proposition relating to the appropriation of $50,000 to the Hicksville Gregory Museum, as in previous years, for educational services associated with its programs. Proposition #2 is contingent upon the approval of Proposition #1 and passage of Proposition #2 in the amount of $50,000 will bring the bond total to $74,273,536.

The budget is broken down into six categories:

This category contains monies for the overall administration of the district, which includes appropriations for the school board, central administration and the operation and general maintenance of the district buildings.

The General Support category accounts for $10,780,912, an increase of $737,451 over the current year's spending of $10,043,461.

This section addresses what the district calls its "major function," instructional programs. The salaries of principals, supervisors, teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, librarians, health service personnel, teaching assistants, and clerical workers and aides are encompassed in this area of the budget. Also included in this section are the costs for instructional supplies, textbooks, district handicapped programs and tuition for BOCES and private schools, guidance, libraries, and occupational education.

The Instruction category accounts for $43,699,939, an increase of $2,169,475 over this year's total of $41,530,464.

The Hicksville School District provides transportation for approximately 3,500 students to public and non-public schools in and out of the district. Also included in this portion of the budget is the transportation provided for handicapped students and vocational students to special schools outside the district, as well as interscholastic sports trips and academic field trips

The Transportation category accounts for $4,915,353, an increase of $252,194 from the 2001-2002 budget of $4,663,159.

This category encompasses all the recreational services funded by the school district. Included in this is the summer and after-school recreation and youth programs.

For 2002-2003, the Recreational category of the budget has decreased by $29,748 from $208,728 to $178,980.

This money accounts for the census the district distributes and tabulates for the residents of the district.

The Community Service section of the budget accounts for $70,431, a decrease of $54,198 from this year's budget of $124,629.

The Undistributed section includes payment of employee benefits such as retirement, Social Security, health insurance and unemployment insurance, along with interest on borrowing. The Other Debt category covers the cost of the district's Cogeneration Energy plan.

For 2002-2003, this area of the budget accounts for $14,577,921, a $707,191 increase over the current year's spending of $13,870,730.

In addition to the budget, voting for school board trustees will also take place on Tuesday, May 21. Hicksville residents Augustine Tornatore Caryn Calabrese and James Pino are all running unopposed.