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Plainview-Old Bethpage district outlines proposed budget increase, urges voters to back May 20 vote
Summary
District officials presented a proposed budget described as coming in above last year but under the tax‑levy cap, urged voters to back Proposition 1 (the annual budget) and Proposition 2 (use of reserves for infrastructure), and warned a failed budget would force a contingency plan with a $3,940,000 gap.
The Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District on Monday summarized its proposed budget and urged residents to vote on May 20 to avoid program cuts that would follow a failed budget.
Board speakers said the district’s tax‑levy cap is 3.62 percent and that the board intends to remain below that limit. The presentation included a figure the district cited as a 3.86 percent budget increase and noted the proposed levy support amount cited in the presentation as 2.75 (as presented to the board). “When the bond failed in January, we asked the community to respond to a survey and the overarching message was it was just too expensive,” one board presenter said, adding the proposed budget seeks to preserve programs while limiting taxpayer impact.
The board described two propositions that will appear on the ballot. Proposition 1 is the district’s annual budget. Proposition 2 asks voters to authorize use of district reserves for critical infrastructure projects — a measure the presenter said “would have no impact on taxes” because it draws from existing reserves rather than raising the levy.
Officials spelled out the consequence of a rejected budget: the district would get one more opportunity for a second public vote; if that also fails the district would implement a contingency budget that the board said would leave a $3,940,000 shortfall affecting programs, field trips, clubs and some athletic offerings. “These are real consequences,” a board presenter said.
Voting logistics and registration: the board announced the budget vote is scheduled for May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters will cast ballots at Jamaica Avenue School; district leaders also said a district representative will accept voter registration applications at the administrative offices on May 13 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The district encouraged absentee voting for residents who cannot be in town the day of the vote.
Why it matters: board officials framed the budget as an attempt to balance program preservation with taxpayer restraint and stressed turnout will determine whether the district can avoid a contingency budget and related cuts.
The board did not provide a roll‑call tally for the budget presentation itself; the next formal step is the public vote on May 20.
