Residents will have the opportunity to vote on this year's school budget, board of education candidates, library budget and library board of trustees on June 3.

The proposed Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District budget for 2003-2004 is $91,579,650, which is an increase of $7,248,331 (8.59 percent). Most of the budget, $5,657,665, is attributable to mandated costs, such as contractual salaries, $3,175,561, health insurance premiums, $1,328,323, employee and teacher retirement system contributions, $276,043, Social Security payments, $416,951, transportation contracts, $160,192 and principal and interest payments on the district's bond issue, $162,285 that was passed in 1999.

"We know that the national economy is in a downturn, that the state is facing a multi-billion dollar deficit, and that education will be receiving less federal and state aid than in previous years," said the board of education in the annual budget newsletter. "We are also mindful that the Nassau County re-assessment has resulted in a tax increase for most homeowners. As always, we have tried to balance the educational needs of our district's students with the financial realities of the current economy. It is our view that the very high quality of our district's schools continues to draw new people to our community, and keeps the value of our homes high even in these difficult economic times."

In addition, the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library passed a bond issue last year and because public libraries are prohibited by law from collecting taxes, school districts must collect the taxes needed for this bond. In 2003-04, this amount is $245,258.

The proposed budget maintains all of the district's educational programs, and provides funds for equalizing class sizes between Mattlin and POB Middle School, creating a weight room/dance studio/fitness center at POBJFKHS, implementing a Global Learning Laboratory Program for foreign language students at POBJFKHS, upgrading the ball fields, additional textbooks at all grade levels, the purchase and installation of new computers in classrooms and labs, security enhancements at the two middle schools and the high school and a variety of needed capital projects (including asbestos abatement in the Pasadena School boiler room; new lockers at the two middle schools; and curb, sidewalk and driveway repairs at Mattlin, POBJFKHS and Old Bethpage School). In addition, the budget contains funds for additional guidance services at POB Middle School and POBJFKHS, and a few new courses at POBJFKHS, including Advanced Placement English/Language Composition, and Italian III.

"Approximately 78 percent of the increase in this year's budget is due to costs that the board has little or no control over," said Dr. Martin Brooks, Superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District. "I think this is a good budget and I think it recognizes difficult economic times while maintaining all of the programs that make POB a special place to live and learn."

The 2003-2004 school year budget also seeks to strike a balance between responding to mandated increases over which the board of education has no control and maintaining the high quality of education in Plainview-Old Bethpage, The student enrollment is expected to continue to increase in 2003-2004.

Jonathan Mosenson and Evelyn Rothman are both running unopposed for re-election to the board of education.

All residents are encouraged to vote on June 3 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Jamaica Avenue School, POB Middle School and Old Bethpage School.