'Vote Yes': Students Plead With Residents To Pass School Budget

RIVERHEAD, NY — Waving signs that said "Blue Waves" and "Vote Yes!" students rallied at the traffic circle Saturday imploring residents to pass the Riverhead Central School District's 2020 to 2021 budget during an in-person revote Tuesday.

Students urged voters to say "yes" on the second go-round so that school sports, electives, arts and other programs will not be cut under a contingency budget.

The vote takes place Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the district's regular polling spots. Residents can confirm their polling place by checking the district’s “Where Do I Vote” link under board of education's budget and election voting information page here.

Taxpayers who prefer to cast an absentee ballot can request one from the district clerk’s office by calling 631-369-4724 or by filling out an application posted on the district’s website. Absentee ballots must be returned no later than 5 p.m. on July 28. There is a drop box at the district office for residents who prefer to hand deliver documents.

After all the absentee ballots for the Riverhead Central School District's 2020-2021 vote were tallied, the budget failed in June. There were a total of 3,173 "no" votes, with 2,847 voting "yes."

The budget remains within the New York State tax levy cap with a "nominal" tax levy increase of 2.21 percent, the district said. No changes have been made to the proposed $147,124,895 budget, which was put before voters on June 9.

“We are confident that the proposed budget is fiscally sound and prudently takes into consideration the burden on taxpayers,” said interim Superintendent Christine Tona.

The budget carries a year-over-year increase of 1.87 percent, which ensures that the district’s academic and extracurricular programs are maintained; it also supports technological growth for classroom innovation, district officials said.

“The proposed budget supports the goals of the board of education and ensures Riverhead students receive a rich educational experience,” said Laurie Downs, board of education president.

The district is currently operating under a $144,831,131 contingency budget that represents a 0.27 percent budget-to-budget increase, which was guided by education law, the district said.

The budget includes a freeze on equipment purchases and salary increases for individually contracted staff. The athletics program ($963,978), clubs, musical performances ($186,006) and after-school buses ($317,947) have been eliminated.

Other areas slashed include computer technology ($100,000), high school electives ($151,108), the science program ($135,122), the elementary literacy program ($148,459), and auto and building maintenance ($121,839), the district said.

For the average assessed home, the difference between the proposed budget and contingent budget is about $110 per year, the district said.

If the proposed budget fails on July 28, the district will continue to operate under the contingency budget with the reductions outlined above for the remainder of the 2020 - 2021 school year.

The Riverhead Central School District's board of education adopted the contingency budget on the same day that Superintendent Dr. Aurelia Henriquez resigned, citing "irreconcilable differences."

When residents voted down the proposed 2020 to 2021 school budget, the Riverhead district was one of only three school districts on Long Island, including Uniondale and Valley Stream 13, where residents rejected their budgets.

At the first vote residents were also asked to consider Proposition No. 2, which included no additional cost to taxpayers, the district said.

That proposition authorized the district to expend a sum not to exceed $469,470 from the cafeteria capital reserve fund to convert the dry goods storage room at the Pulaski Street Elementary School kitchen to a walk-in freezer; replace the serving lines at the Riverhead High School cafeteria, the Riverhead Middle School cafeteria, and the Pulaski Street Elementary School; and make improvements to the serving area entrances at the Pulaski Street Elementary School.

That proposition passed by a vote of 3,969 to 2,050.

In February, residents also said "no" to a $96.5 million bond resolution that would have funded repairs and renovations throughout the Riverhead Central School District.