School Vote 2018: North Bellmore Budget And BOE Candidates

When North Bellmore residents head to the polls on May 15, they will be casting ballots for the school district's budget, a competitive Board of Education race and a number of ballot initiatives.

The proposed North Bellmore school budget for 2018-19 is $57.2 million, an increase of about $1.9 million from the 2017-18 spending plan. It comes with a tax levy increase of 3.4 percent, which is within the district's limit under the tax cap.

There were incorrect reports that the tax levy was increasing 5 percent. That would only happen if residents approve one of the ballot measures.

Residents will be voting on three transportation-related initiatives. The first, Proposition 2A, would reduce the no-busing area for students in grades four through six from one mile to 1/2 mile. It would cost an extra $610,000 and would require the district to pierce the tax cap to fund it. As such, it needs 60 percent of voters to approve it to pass.

Proposition 2B is the opposite of 2A: it eliminates all busing for students who live closer than two miles from school, regardless of their grade. It would save the district about $450,000. It only requires a simple majority to pass.

Proposition 2C would leave the transportation plan for the district as it is now. It also only requires a simple majority to pass.

In addition, residents will have to cast a ballot for two of four people who are running for two open Board of Education seats. Incumbents Nina Lanci and Melissa Cmar-Grote are facing off against challengers Tara Casucci and Jeannie Shipman. Residents are voting them in for a three-year term.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Newbridge Road School.

For information on the budget, propositions and candidates for the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, click here.

Photo: Google Maps