EDITORIAL: Time for an up-or-down vote on school budgets

Today is decision day for Long Island school budgets. And while nearly all of us have opinions on property taxes and schools, history says that fewer than 14 percent of Long Islanders will go to the polls. Earn your right to complain about high taxes, boast about high-quality schools - or both. Get out and vote today.

Education costs are a big item on property-tax bills. Adding up all the districts' budgets, Long Island spends $10.5 billion for public schools, more than double the combined budgets of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Next year, Gov. David A. Paterson's state budget would reduce aid by $172.6 million for Island schools.

Many school districts have budgeted carefully, but examine yours before you vote. Is the overall spending increase above or below the 2.36 percent Island average? Have school unions or administrators agreed to wage freezes, demonstrating that they understand that taxpayers can't bear all the costs? In several districts, they have.

Another fair question is whether a "no" vote will result in higher taxes. Newsday reported on Sunday that at least 11 districts have rigged their budgets that way, by withholding cash balances from contingency budgets. Check to see if your school district is among them.

Vote today, and have your say in the Island's future. hN