Mineola School District residents passed a $64,970,912 budget for the 2004-2005 school year by 403 votes. The results were certainly different for Mineola this year as last year, the budget was defeated twice by voters.

The district and the Mineola Board of Education put forth a budget they believed was responsible. The budget called for a 4.28 percent increase in spending over last year's budget and 4.67 increase in the tax levy or amount to be raised by taxes of last year's contingency budget. Both numbers were among the lowest in Nassau County.

In a statement, Mineola Board of Education President Steve Siwinski said, "I am happy the budget passed. The voter turnout was strong and a good thing. The school district is on the right track. The board and the superintendent worked hard to put out a budget that is fiscally sound. I thank the public for supporting it. The people who benefit from this vote are students. They will, after all, be the leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow."

If the budget failed, the board and district estimated it would have to cut $1.2 million from the budget, which would come from non-mandated items. However, there is now no need to adjust the budget since 1,529 came out in support as opposed to the 1,126 who rejected the plan.

Despite Mineola having one of the lowest budget increases, the district still has one of the highest cost per student ratios in the county. For the 2004-2005, Mineola will spend $22,998 per student.

According to the district, households with a Basic STAR exemption can expect to pay $149 more dollars while those with Enhanced STAR can expect to pay $112 more dollars. Those with no exemption can expect to pay another $204.

Some of the those who intended on voting against the school budget prior to the day of the budget vote expressed concerns about an investigation being conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney's Office.

One resident also expressed concern about wasteful spending in the district. Superintendent of Schools for the Mineola School District Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli maintained that the district and board began to look at expenses before last year's budget and believes the district was able to weed out wasteful spending.

On a day when many Long Island school budgets failed, the Mineola School District was able to celebrate

Budget Results

By School

Cross Street School -

323 YES, 214 NO

Hampton Street School -

322 YES, 220 NO

Jackson Avenue School -

500 YES, 442 NO

Meadow Drive School -

384 YES, 250 NO

School board member Donna Strein ran unopposed and was re-elected for another three-year term. Strein received 1,706 votes. Residents also approved Proposition #2 on the ballot, which called for the district to modify its public school registration policy from the existing one to a continuous one at no cost increase to the 2004-2005 budget and tax levy.