The West Hempstead School District got as close as you can to passing a budget without actually passing one so the district will try again. Residents will vote on the proposed 2004-2005 school year budget again on Thursday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the West Hempstead Middle School gymnasium.

When the budget was originally put up for a vote on May 18, it only failed by six votes. Therefore, the board of education decided, by a vote of 6-1, to put the same budget up before voters with hope that more people will come out to vote. Board vice president Vincent Trocchia was the only board member who favored making some cuts to the budget before putting it out to voters again.

However, the district will put out its originally proposed $42,856,186 before voters. The budget represents a 7.2 percent increase in spending from the 2003-2004 school year and an estimated 10.28 percent increase over the 2003-2004 in the tax levy or the amount to be raised by taxes.

Proponents of the budget are counting on more residents coming out to vote. The May 18 vote drew 1,244 votes (625 Yes, 619 No). One theory is that West Hempstead's history of passing budgets may have led some to believe the budget would pass without their votes.

"People we're seeing say that it always passes. That's the attitude I'm hearing," said Superintendent of Schools Carol Eisenberg, who saw the budget pass in all her years as superintendent prior to this one.

Mrs. Eisenberg admits that times are tough for everyone, but says every line in the budget is a needed one.

If the budget fails again, the district must use the state's formula in adopting a contingency budget. For West Hempstead, that means cutting $1.954 million from the proposed budget. Mrs. Eisenberg said a nine period day at the high school would become an eight period day; the full-day kindergarten program will become a half-day kindergarten program; 11 teaching positions would be cut; there may be a reduction in health and support personnel in all elementary schools (public and private schools the district supplies); there may be no interscholastic athletics.

"In dollars, all of this amounts to $1.954 million that we have to cut," said Mrs. Eisenberg. "Every line [in the budget] represents a need."

Mrs. Eisenberg said the 7.2 percent spending increase proposed is lower than the Nassau County average. According to a cost per pupil report, as of July 2003, the West Hempstead Union Free School District spends $14,715 per pupil, placing them 25th out of 42 K-12 districts in Nassau County as far as spending. Manhasset is first at $22,348.

The Sewanhaka Central High School District also saw its budget fail on May 18. The Sewanhaka budget failed by 397 votes. The board of education and the district decided to reduce its budget by $741,800. Residents of the district will now be voting on a $118, 403, 750 as opposed to the $119,145,556 that failed on May 18.

The revote for the Sewanhaka budget will be held on Tuesday, June 15 at the home elementary schools of the component districts, which are the Elmont School District, Franklin Square School District, Floral Park-Bellerose School District and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District.

This budget vote will be the last for Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Goldstein, who is retiring at the end of the month. According to Dr. Goldstein, if the budget were to fail a second time, the district would go on an austerity budget and have to cut another $1.5 million from the budget. He said all capital projects would be gone; community use of facilities would be gone as would intramural sports, some music programs and summer school would be abolished.