The Oyster Bay-East Norwich School Board has submitted a second budget for voter approval. The new budget of $50,182,037 calls for an increase of 2.96 percent with a tax levy of 4.34 percent to fund running the school district for the 2011-2012 term.
The voters defeated the proposed 2011-12 budget of $50,657,664 with a tax levy of 5.4 percent which was an increase over the current budget of $48,738,155. A contingency Budget which allows for a 2.01 percent increase would be $49,718,286 with a tax levy of 3.22 percent.
The tax levy which is set by the county, is dependent on property values. The assessments are different for Oyster Bay and East Norwich, but both have gone down from last year. If the assessments go down, you pay more to make up for the difference. If they went up, you would pay less percentage-wise.
The budget vote is scheduled for June 21 in the foyer of the OBHS gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Over the years we have been told, “If all the parents vote, they can pass the budget.”
There are currently about 1,600 students in the district. Then let’s look at the statistics. If they were only children and both parents were around (not divorced, or deceased) that would mean there are 3,200 potential voters for the budget.
But families, last time we checked, are supposed to have 2.5 children. That cuts the parent potential vote down about half. But in Oyster Bay many families have grandparents living locally. That can mean two or four more votes per family unit in the best cases.
The last budget had 1,002 yes votes and 1,036 no votes.
All we can say is we wish we remembered more of our probability formulas from college math. But I guess that is what makes horse racing such an interesting pastime.
Whatever – which is our new favorite word – I will be voting for the budget and are looking forward to seeing the outcome. With a little luck, the economy will improve and things will be better next year.
