Sachem school district

VOTING

6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at all 12 district elementary schools.

THE BUDGET

The district proposes a $293,041,954 budget for 2013-14, a 0.58 percent increase over the current $291,358,344 budget.

The local tax levy would rise 7.49 percent, from $158,028,135 to $169,863,545.

The increase exceeds the state's tax-cap limit of 3.14 percent, so a 60 percent vote will be required to approve the budget.

The district said this is necessary to maintain existing programs for students.

Under the proposed budget, school taxes on the average single-family house would rise from $6,547 to $7,038 in Brookhaven, from $5,280 to $5,676 in Islip, and from $7,537 to $8,102 in Smithtown. The assessed value of the average single-family home is $3,500 in Brookhaven, $40,000 in Islip and $6,000 in Smithtown.

The proposed budget includes a 1.5 percent contractual raise and a 1 percent step increase for teachers. It calls for cutting 105 positions, including 43 teachers, 32 support staff and four administrators. The remaining 26 positions were teachers given a $20,000 incentive to retire, officials said, saving the district $2.7 million. Sachem will have larger class sizes at the high school level.

District website:

www.sachem.edu

THE CANDIDATES

Incumbents Tony Falco, Michael J. Timo and Sal Tripi are running unopposed for their seats.