Sachem Budget Voter's Guide: Super Tuesday

It's that time of year again, when signs can be seen around the school district asking you to vote for certain candidates. When you wonder if the community will vote for or against the school budget. When many think there vote won't make a difference and when many are riled up to affect the masses.
Regardless of who wins or loses the Board of Education Trustee elections or if the school budget passes or fails, Sachem Patch's job is to inform the public so it can make the right choices. So here's the information you need:

Voting Statistics

There are approximately 52,593 registered voters in Sachem for the 2010-11 budget/election. Here's who came out to vote the last three years: 

5/15/07             6,551     Total voters

5/20/08            5,963    Total voters

5/19/09            5,081     Total voters

School Budget Breakdown

Proposed budget for 2010-11: $280,711,665 

Last year's budget: $277,694,940

Note: The district increased the budget $3.5 million for repairs to the roof at Sachem High School East after it was voted on last year. Three-quarters of the repairs were paid for by state aide.

Total increase: 2.38 percent from original and 1.09 percent after repairs

Proposed tax levy for 2010-11: $146,820,084 (1.13 percent from the 2009-10 figure of $145,180,042)

Proposed cuts: One coordinator assistant, two education coaches, 10 teachers are retiring and will not be replaced, reduction in hours for security and some staff development positions were cut as well.

The last three years, there was a zero percent increase in Sachem's budget.

If it doesn't pass?

The proposed budget would be slashed $4,587,400. These cuts include capital projects ($877,000), co-curricular activities ($766,344), district field trips ($245,000), and middle school, freshman and JV sports ($1,067,850).

BOE Candidates

To read statements from the people running to keep their board seats and the people running for the first time, check out Sachem Patch's "In their own words" feature it ran the other day.

Anthony Falco, Board President, incumbent: Read more

Mike Matlat, running for Falco's seat: Read more

Sal Tripi, Board Trustee, incumbent: Read more

Teri Ahearn, running for Tripi's seat: Read more

Mike Timo, Board Trustee, incumbent running unopposed: Read more

Where to Vote?

Every elementary school (check the map to the right) from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Comparison to Other Districts

-Brentwood: Budget ($304,088,227), Increase (1.05 percent)

-Patchogue-Medford: Budget ($161,909,628), Increase (3.58 percent)

-William Floyd: Budget ($200,029,600), Increase (2.75 percent)

-Middle Country: Budget ($207,877,471), Increase (3.82 percent)

-Longwood: Budget ($208,200,000), Increase (2.26 percent)

-Highest proposed budget: Brentwood, $304 million

-Smallest proposed budget: New Suffolk, $788,704

-Biggest tax decrease: East Hampton, -2.08 percent

-Number of districts with tax increases greater than 4 percent: 31

-Number of districts with decreases or no increases: 8