East Hampton School Budget Hearing Tonight

May has arrived, and with it comes the countdown to school budget votes and elections around East Hampton.

The Board of Education will hold a on the $62.8 million budget proposed for the 2012-13 school year on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

The proposed budget is $1.6 million less than the 2011-12 budget. The board's budget does not pierce the state mandated 2 percent cap on tax levy increases.

Voters will cast ballots in favor or against the proposal in the auditorium on  While there is no race, two candidates, current appointed board member Liz Pucci and Christina DeSanti, are also .

The board of education slashed $2.8 million off the first draft of budget to stay under the cap. However, the increase in the tax levy is actually almost 3.6 percent once state exemptions are factored in.

The district cut 12 positions teaching and staff positions to the tune of . Those positions will be vacated mostly due to retirements. They are high school special education, high school technology, high school mathematics, high school social studies, high school physical education, business office payroll department, a classroom aide, district-wide operations clerk, and an elementary physical education position, from which someone resigned.

Other positions were also not replaced: director of unified arts, facilities administrator, three teaching positions (English, LOTE, Reading Departments) and 7 non-teaching positions (five para-professionals and two district-wide custodians).

Savings were also found through the reductions of costs for textbooks, field trips and adult programs, among others. Other savings were found through shared services with nearby school districts for transportation and special education.

Other figures will be presented at the budget hearing.

A full copy of the budget is available at the district clerk's office.