Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Budget approved by slimmest of margins Tuesday.
A proposed $291.36 million Sachem school budget squeaked out approval from voters on Tuesday. The budget passed by 18 votes as it garnered 60.2 percent approval. The budget pierces the state's tax cap, with a 4.2 percent hike in the tax levy, thus it required a 60 percent super-majority to pass. Are you happy with the results of the budget vote? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments.
Tamarac was the scene of the highest percentage of vote for the budget.
A $291.36 million proposed 2012/13 school budget passed on Tuesday. The budget received 60.2 percent approval, 5,031 for and 3,323 against. With 8,354 votes cast, the budget needed 5,013 votes (or 60 percent) to pass as the budget exceeded the state's new tax cap. Voting took place at all 12 Sachem elementary schools. The broken down figures from each polling location are below. Every location collected a majority vote for the budget. Tamarac had the highest percentage (67.7) of voters in favor of the budget. Hiawatha had the lowest percentage (53.6) of voters in favor. Official Results By School
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Budget approved on supermajority vote; incumbent Douglas Duncan defeats Jeff Vinci and Jon Siegel for only contested Board of Education seat.
Sachem residents green-lighted a 2012/13 school budget on Tuesday, giving the $291.36 million proposal the 60 percent supermajority it needed to pass. The spending plan, over the state's new tax cap, received 60.2 percent of the vote, 5,031-3,323. With 8,354 votes cast, the budget required 5,013 votes for it to be put into effect. "I mean this, I've been here 30 years and I have never, ever once been disappointed by the people in this community and I can continue to say that," Superintendent James Nolan said after the votes were tabulated. Incumbent Douglas Duncan won the single contested Board of Education seat handily, defeating Jeff Vinci and Jon Siegel for another three-year term. Duncan received 3,406 votes, Vinci tallied 2,159 and …
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Nokomis Elementary School
151 Holbrook Rd, Holbrook, NY
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Polls open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday at all 12 elementary schools.
Sachem residents cast their ballots Tuesday on a 2012/13 school budget, along with selecting members of the Board of Education. Here is what you need to know: Budget The proposed budget is $291.36 million, a 1.2 percent spending increase over the current year. The budget, however, carries a 4.2 percent hike in the school tax levy. That is above the 2.8 percent allowed under the state's new tax cap. If the budget passes, school taxes will rise on average by $256, $224 and $304 for residents in the Towns of Brookhaven, Islip and Smithtown, respectively. Sachem is among 17 out of 124 districts on Long Island to propose a budget over the tax cap, according to Newsday. What does that mean? Local municipalities have the option to override the …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Suffolk Police investigation Monday afternoon at Islip Town facility didn't impede flight operation activities.
A call to Suffolk Police about a possible bomb at Long Island MacArthur Airport at noon on Monday was determined a false alarm, according to Islip Town officials. Suffolk Police officers were dispatched to the town airport, complete with a canine unit and emergency response trucks, and conducted an investigation that lasted a little more than an hour, according to a town spokesperson. "It was deemed not credible. The call received was not very specific in nature," said the spokesperson, who noted that there was no impact to airport services during the investigation. In fact, few leaving or working in the airport realized there was a threat issue. A woman manning a luggage kiosk told Patch she didn't know anything about a threat or why …
A final pitch from BOE candidate Douglas Duncan before Tuesday's election.
Editor's note: Patch has offered all three candidates (Douglas Duncan, Jon Siegel and Jeff Vinci) for the one contested Sachem Board of Education seat the opportunity to tell residents in their own words why they are the best choice. The following was submitted by the incumbent Douglas Duncan. A full voters guide to Tuesday's budget vote and board election will appear on Patch Monday evening. Dear Residents, I have had the honor and the privilege of serving on the Sachem Board of Education for the past six years. I first ran my freshman year of college and won, and then was humbled to be voted in by the community for a second term on the board, and I now ask you to send me back for a third term. For the past six years, we have been able to…
A final pitch from BOE candidate Jon Siegel before Tuesday's election.
Editor's note: Patch has offered all three candidates (Douglas Duncan, Jon Siegel and Jeff Vinci) for the one contested Sachem Board of Education seat the opportunity to tell residents in their own words why they are the best choice. The following was submitted by Jon Siegel. A full voters guide to Tuesday's budget vote and board election will appear on Patch Monday evening. Dear Sachem residents, My name is Jon Siegel and I am running for the Sachem Board of Education. I am a lifelong Sachem Resident, class of 1986 graduate, homeowner, and parent of three children who attend our schools. I am also like the majority of you, tired of watching our children’s educational opportunities be reduced and our home values decrease as we struggle to …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Councilwoman Jane Bonner introduces resolution to withdraw the fees, but the town board votes it down.
The Town of Brookhaven on Tuesday upheld the beach and marina parking fees established about a month ago, despite an attempt by one town council member to comb through the town budget to find savings that would offset the cost of repealing the fee. The Town Board voted 3-4 against dropping the fee, with council members Jane Bonner, Tim Mazzei, and Dan Panico voting in the minority. By working with various town officials, Bonner said she was able to find $625,000 in offsets within the town budget to withdraw the fee without sacrificing overtime costs budgeted for town operations. Her plan included eliminating three positions that are currently vacant due to the town's hiring freeze. She called it "painless ways to come up with the cuts that…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Scavo is running unopposed for a third-term on the board.
Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of profiles of this year's Board of Education candidates. The election will be held May 15 at the same time as the school budget vote. Robert Scavo is running unopposed for a three-year term on the Sachem Board of Education. Scavo, the current board president, was first elected to the board in 2006. Q&A 1) Please briefly describe your bio (age, education, occupation and name of your employer/s, family, etc.) I’m 43 years old and graduated from Sachem in 1986. I attended Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island and graduated in 1991 earning a degree in occupational science. I also attended S.U.N.Y Oswego and obtained my degree in career and technical education. I currently work as a culinary …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Vinci says top administrators should have forfeited raises in proposed budget.
Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of profiles of this year's Board of Education candidates. The election will be held May 15 at the same time as the school budget vote. Jeff Vinci, a newcomer to running for elected office, is seeking a seat on the Sachem Board of Education. The 41-year-old Holbrook resident is running for the seat currently held by Douglas Duncan. It's the only contested seat on the board this year and it's a three-way contest between Vinci, Duncan and Jon Siegel. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here. Q&A 1) Please briefly describe your bio (age, education, occupation and name of your …
alexandra
5:02 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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