Mattituck-Cutchogue School Voters Guide 2010

VOTING

3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Mattituck High School gymnasium.

THE BUDGET

The district is proposing a budget of $36,539,331 for the 2010-11 school year, up 1.5 percent over the current budget of $35,998,110.

Under the proposed budget, the tax levy would rise 3.44 percent to $32,222,328 from $31,152,110.

That means the owner of a home assessed at $500,000, the average for the district, would pay $4,133 in school taxes, up 3.43 percent from $3,996.

The proposed budget includes a 2.25 percent increase in teachers' salaries. For many senior teachers, step increases are frozen. Across the staff, the step increase would average 1.5 percent. No staff reduction is proposed.

There are no changes to existing programs in the district, nor are any being added.

District website: mufsd.com

THE CANDIDATES

Incumbents Lynne Krauza and Janique Nine and challenger William Gatz are running for two seats, each with a three-year term.

William Gatz

BACKGROUND: Gatz, 47, owns Long Island National Golf Club in Riverhead and was a founder, director, shareholder and executive officer of MainStreet Bank. He has lived in the district about five years. Gatz and his wife, Karen, have three children who attend school in the district. He is active in coaching youth sports.

ISSUES: Gatz said there's a "delicate balance" to be struck between the needs of students and the ability of taxpayers to fund school programs. He said he wants to apply his business background to the problem. "I look at the taxpayers as my shareholders and the students as my customers," he said. Gatz cited the resurfacing/replacement of the running track at Mattituck High School as one job he wants to tackle. Though the issue has been discussed many times over the years, Gatz said, the track continues to deteriorate.

Lynne Krauza

BACKGROUND: Krauza, 50, is a secretary in the town attorney's office in Southold. She has lived in the district for 10 years. Krauza and her husband, Stephen, have two children, one of whom attends school in the district and another who graduated from Mattituck High School in 2009.

ISSUES: With demands on the district great and the need to limit spending high, Krauza said she supports more cooperation among area districts. In April, she formed North Fork United Schools, which consists of area board of education members and superintendents. The group, Krauza said, advocates for the interests of the districts, educates the community on school budgets and looks for ways to cut costs. It is work she plans to continue if elected, she said. "We're trying to do what we can as a group to try and share services and try to save some money," Krauza said.

Janique Nine

BACKGROUND: Nine, 41, is a medical accounts coordinator and has lived in the district for more than six years. Nine and her husband, Robert, have two children, both of whom attend the district elementary school. Nine is a Girl Scouts leader and involved in the group's North Fork Service Unit.

ISSUES: Nine said the challenge facing the district is how to educate students given the requirements and constraints of the state and federal governments, while being responsible to taxpayers. "I strive to address each decision knowing I have the responsibility of balancing these two sides," Nine said. "I am also determined to keep mindful that decisions should benefit the district as a whole and not just the needs of a few."