Two letters to the editor published in the May 25, issue of the Tribune objected to the decision by the Levittown Board of Education to hold a second budget vote for the 2001-2002 school year. I agree with the writers of both of these letters on this point: there should only be one school budget vote each year.

The writers did not seem to be aware, however, that it is New York State law, not Levittown School District policy, that provides for two budget votes. The writers, also, seemed to be unaware that the Levittown Board of Education has often lobbied state legislators to change the law so there would be only one budget vote. Until recently, state law even allowed school districts to hold up to three budget votes each year.

According to the original intent of the multi-budget-vote law, it was a school board's responsibility to present to the voters a responsible budget that reflected the educational needs of the children of the community. It was not expected that these needs would change because voters did not pass the budget on the first vote. A failed budget vote was not intended to pit the needs of a community's children against those of its taxpayers; rather it meant that the school board had to explain the children's needs once again (or twice again, if necessary). A single budget vote would add integrity and clarity to the whole school budget vote process.

In recent years - including the proposed 2001-2002 school budget - the Levittown School Board has attempted to present to the voters of the community a "bottom-line" budget that accurately reflects the educational needs of our community. These needs have not changed as a result of the budget defeat on May 15, and it would be less than honest, and a disservice to the Levittown community and its children for the board of education to reduce the quality of education that it is currently providing to our children solely for the purpose of passing a budget.

The major difference between Levittown's 2001-2002 budget proposal and those of neighboring school districts is that Levittown's proposal includes additional funds for a nine-period day at the high schools - a program which neighboring school districts were able to include in their prior years' budgets. Otherwise, Levittown's expenditure increase would be even less than that of its neighbors.

For those who think that school taxes are a heavy burden, I must agree with you. But what alternative do we have? The quality of education provided by the Levittown Public Schools and the continuous improvement in the academic achievement of our students has contributed significantly to the improvement in quality of life in our community (including higher property values). Failing to pass our school budget in order to save a couple of hundred collars in taxes would be short-sighted, and cause damage to the quality of our schools, and to the quality of life in our community. This damage would far outweigh any savings.

Before anyone considers voting "no" on the school budget revote, I urge you to consider three facts: a) the amount of money that the Levittown School District spends per pupil is already much lower than any of our neighbors; b) In spite of that fact, Levittown's schools produce better student achievement than most neighboring school districts, even better than the average for Nassau County on most state tests; and c) Take a good look at your school tax bill - look at the actual amount you pay in school taxes - it is still lower than all our neighbors, except Hicksville and Island Trees.

A board of education can do no better by its residents than to provide higher student achievement at a lower cost to taxpayers than most other school districts in the area. The Levittown Board of Education has done just that. Look closely! Compared to any neighboring school district, Levittown either produces higher student achievement, or has lower actual school taxes, or both. Your school board has done its homework on your behalf. It is now up to you. Our children and our community need your yes vote on the June 6 school budget revote.