Nanuet To Vote On 2018-19 School Budget

NANUET, NY — Voters in the Nanuet Union Free School District will be going to the polls Tuesday, May 15 to have their say on the budget for the 2018-19 school year. They'll also choose new school board members -- there are three open seats.

Running for a seat on the Board of Education:

• Lynn Fahmi
• Christine Camillieri
• Scott Walters
• Sarah Chauncey
• Nabeel Ahmad

The spending plan is $73 million, up 1.73 percent from the current year.

The tax levy increase is 1.89 percent, which is compliant with the state's annual property tax cap. It is higher than the spending increase partly due to a scheduled reduction in PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments from IRG.

The school board plans to take $3.1 million from reserves to close the gap between the budget and the allowable tax levy to preserve all programs.

School officials said the spending increase is due in the main to several factors: health insurance costs plus mandated cost-of-living increases for staff, and the services needed for additional special education students.

The budget includes the five year lease of one 21-student wheelchair accessible bus. The cost for 2018-19 will be $10,678 and the total cost will not exceed $53,390.

It also includes $2.5 million for proposed capital projects. On the wish list over the next several years:

• Renovate one or more bathrooms throughout the District
• Replace Electrical Switchgear at Miller
• Complete work at the High School Media Center
• Perform necessary renovations to HVAC systems
• Projects to improve building security
• Perform asbestos remediation throughout the District
• Replace existing alarm system at Miller
• Upgrade elevators throughout the district

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 in the Nanuet High School gym, 103 Church St.