Residents of the Mineola School District will vote on a proposed budget for the 2003-2004 school year on Tuesday, June 3. The proposed budget calls for $62,376,459 in expenditures, a 5.41 percent increase over the current 2002-2003 budget.

In presenting its budget to the public, the Mineola School District has estimated receiving $4,350,000 in state aid. Based on that amount of state aid, the tax levy, which is the amount of the budget that must be raised by taxes, would be $57,526,459, an increase of 9.03 percent over the current 2002-2003 budget. The estimated tax rate would be $129.34 per $100 of assessed valuation.

However, because the New York State Legislature has drafted its own budget with a greater school aid package than the governor's proposal, the Mineola School District should be receiving an additional $476,000 in state aid.

Superintendent of Schools for the Mineola School District Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli said all of the additional $476,000 in state aid the district anticipates receiving would go toward reducing the tax levy to ease the burden on taxpayers. The additional state aid would decrease the tax levy to $57,050,091 as opposed to $57,526,459, an increase of about 8 percent over the 2002-2003 budget.

The school district and the board of education believe they have put together a fiscally responsible budget. Among some of the items that have caused the budget increase are items that are out of the district's control such as the increase in employee benefits such as an increase in health and dental insurance expenses, the increase in the district's contribution to the New York State Retirement System and increases in Social Security, workers' compensation, life insurance, unemployment insurance and disability insurance. Also, debt service has increased by $910,911 since this is the first year in which the budget reflects payments for the bond referendum that was passed on 2000.

The district also budgeted $25,000 for the repair of the roof above the library at the Jackson Avenue School and $50,000 to repair and replace seats in the auditorium at Mineola High School.

One of the ways in which the district tried to save money is through attrition. Dr. Licopoli pointed out that the district has 17 less professional positions as well as two and a half less clerical positions in its 2003-2004 proposed budget than it did in its 2002-2003 budget. The district does plan to add three positions for the new Willis Avenue School.

Dr. Licopoli said the district also tightened its belt with regard to money for supplies and materials as well as overtime and substitutes. The superintendent said the district tried to be sensitive to the taxpayers.

The vote will be held on June 3, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at your local elementary school.