Lakeland Voters To Decide On 2018-19 School Budget

SHRUB OAK, NY — Voters in the Lakeland school district will be going to the polls Tuesday, May 15 to have their say on the budget for the 2018-19 school year.

The proposed spending package is $166,574,338, up 2.37 percent from the current year. The tax levy increase is 0.95 percent, below the state mandated property tax cap.

School officials said retirement costs for the district were higher this year. Other highlights of the spending proposal:

• Maintains and provides additional measures for the safety and security of students and staff
• Budget includes spending for facilities repairs/improvements
• Maintains all current interscholastic, co-curricular, accelerated and enrichment programs

There's a second proposition on the ballot. The district is seeking to replace some high-mileage vehicles. The proposition would authorize purchase of seven large buses; five 30-passenger buses, three 20-passenger buses, two wheelchair-enabled vans, and two suburbans. The vehicles being replaced are costly to maintain given their age and high mileage. The total cost of this year’s proposition will be $1,425,000. Lakeland receives 57.5 percent state aid on the purchase of the school buses. The payment for the buses will be included in the 2019-20 budget. The 2018-19 budget includes payment for the bus bond approved at the budget vote in May 2017.

Additional budget information is available on the district website.

There are also school board elections for four seats on the Lakeland Board of Education.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 at Van Cortlandtville Elementary School, Route 6 in Mohegan Lake.

PHOTO/ Plamena Peshiva