SAYVILLE—Residents of the hamlet that head to the polls next Tuesday to vote for the school district’s 2016-2017 budget will get a pleasant surprise. The budget, which is $90,119,477, represents a decrease of -0.80 percent in the tax rate. For a home assessed at $40,000, the estimated school tax reduction will be about $61 a year.
“This is a first,” said Dr. Walter Schartner, superintendent of Sayville Schools, who has worked in the district for 38 years. He explained that the savings was due to the removal of the state’s Gap Elimination Adjustment practice. “We got back our money that the state had taken away,” he said. “The board decided the community should benefit from that.” He praised Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino and Senators Tom Croci and Phil Boyle for working to abolish the GEA.
Schartner said despite a reduction in taxes, in the coming year the district would still be increasing programs for students, such as the distribution of Chrome Books for grades 6,7 and 8, and would also be adding to the special education program. Summer school, which was held last year at a BOCES facility, will be brought back to Sayville.
There will be three more Advanced Placement courses added and the district has partnered with Suffolk County Community College to allow seniors to take college courses for lesser tuition. Students would be offered placement exams for the SCCC program in the spring of their junior year and then given help with any deficits based on those results.
“We’re always looking…to offer kids the opportunity to excel, and our kids do excel,” said Schartner, who noted that the high school was once again labeled a Reward School, a symbol of excellence in education in New York.
Dr. Schartner said he is hoping that everyone turns out to vote and passes the budget this year. He said that if the budget doesn’t pass, by law it would have to go to contingency, which is set at zero percent, and that’s higher than the proposed rate. “If it doesn’t pass, taxes will go up.”
The polls will be open Tuesday, May 17 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the gymnasium of Suffolk Community College Sayville Center, located at 30 Greene Avenue.
Two board of education trustees are running uncontested for reelection to three-year terms: Norman DeVenau and Maureen Dolan.
Taxpayers will decide on the budget for the Sayville Library as well. The library’s proposed 2016-2017 budget is $3,757,346. The tax increase per $100 of assessed value would be $1.2197.
Incumbent Debra Mitchell, the library board’s secretary, is running for another five-year term unopposed.
Library Director Alice Lepore said she is pleased that the rate for taxpayers has been kept low, noting it was made possible by a reduction in employer cost for the NYS Retirement System. “The tax cap, which was under 1 percent, continues to be a challenge to this process, but we have been able to stay under the cap this year,” said Lepore.
“We continue to offer traditional library services and classes of interest to our residents,” said Lepore. “Computer and fitness workshops are popular, as are train and bus trips. One hundred visitors joined us for each of our winter Sunday concerts. Some new services are made possible by donations from the Friends of Sayville Library, such as free museum passes, discounted tickets to local venues and a raffle for free tickets to a June 18 Long Island Ducks game.”
Lepore added that the Summer Reading Club for all ages would be held soon and would feature prizes provided by the Friends. Signup for the clubs will be held on Friday, June 17 during the Family Carnival that will be held at the back of the library, weather permitting, between 4 and 6 p.m.
“The Board of Trustees, administration and staff thank the district residents for the continued support of their library, where our community connects!” Lepore said.
The Sayville Historical Society has a line on the budget as well. The allotment is $56,941. The estimated tax increase per $100 of assessed value on a home is $0.018.
Linda Conron is the administrator of the historical society. She said some of the funding from the budget is used to maintain the society’s buildings and pay insurance. Other money is raised by donations and grants. Part of the funding also goes to providing a scholarship to a graduating Sayville student, and of course, running programs and exhibits.
“Last year was a good one because we were able to have the Civil War exhibit,” said Conron. “We never did one that big on a national event,” she added.
This summer, the society will feature an exhibit on the Dutch influence in West Sayville. Conron said Dutch immigration to the area isn’t well-known. “We’re looking forward to that exhibit this summer.”
Conron said the money received through the school budget has been important. “It’s allowed us to do a much better job of preserving the history of the area. We are grateful for the taxpayers’ support.”