Great Neck school district

By Jennifer Barriosjennifer.barrios@newsday.comMay 11, 2016

VOTING

7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday at E.M. Baker Elementary School and South High School.

THE BUDGET

The district proposes a budget of $219,147,365 for 2016-17, a 1.13 percent increase from the current $216,697,754.

The tax levy would rise by 0.17 percent, from $195,756,682 to $196,097,039. This increase is equal to the district’s tax-cap limit, so a simple majority is required to pass the budget.

The district said it could not calculate the estimated percentage increase in taxes under the proposed budget because Nassau County has not released the necessary assessment information. The owner of an average single-family home currently pays $12,161.70 in school taxes.

The proposed budget includes an average 2.37 percent increase for all teachers, made up of an average step increase of 2.03 percent and a 0.34 percent increase in additional compensation. It eliminates 11.77 teacher positions, one administrator, 7.9 paraprofessionals, 4.5 clerical positions and four buildings and grounds positions, and consolidates the late bus run for secondary schools.

The ballot also asks voters to approve a $19 million expenditure from the district’s capital-reserve fund for capital improvements, and asks voters to replace the at-large election system with a seat-based system for school board vacancies.