Massapequa's 2019-20 School Budget: What You Need To Know

Massapequa residents will vote on the proposed 2019-20 school budget on Tuesday, May 21. Here's everything you need to know before then.

The proposed spending plan for 2019-20 is $204,140,059. That's a $4.3 million, or 2.17 percent, increase from the current year's budget. To fund the increase, the district is proposing a tax levy increase of $4.55 million, or 2.86 percent.

The district says that most of the increase in the budget comes from higher costs for health insurance, security, special education and transportation.

And those increases aren't minimal. The district budgeted a nearly $2.79 million increase in special education and a more than $363,000 increase in transportation.

Those increases are partially offset by a huge increase in state aid -- more than $456,000. The district is also paying less into other employee benefits, and has reduced its debt.

In addition to the budget, residents will be voting on two ballot propositions. Proposition 1 would expand the Board of Education from its current five members to seven. The petition to do so was submitted by voters in the district. If passed, the board would hold a special election within 60 days to elect the two new board members.

Proposition 2 is to approve $7,154,429 in capital projects, $4.5 million of which would be bonded. The work would include completely renovating the auditorium at Massapequa High School, replacing seating and flooring in the Berner Middle School auditorium and other projects around the district's schools.

Residents can vote for the budget, as well as the library budget and Board of Education and Library Board trustees, on Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are four polling locations in the school district: Massapequa High School, Fairfield Elementary School, Lockhart Elementary School and McKenna Elementary School. For more information on the budget, click here.