Montauk School Budget Stays Under Tax Cap

In Montauk, the school budget for 2013-14 is all set to go to the voters next month.

Montauk School Superintendent Jack Perna said on Thursday that the board voted two days earlier to put out an $18.7 million budget to the voters.

The proposed budget reflects an increase of $180,882, or just under 1 percent. The approved 2012-13 budget was approximately $18.5 million.

According to Maura Mirras, the district treasurer, the majority of the increase is due to BOCES for special education services was the biggest ticket item at $173,000.

But, the property tax levy increase — subject to the 2 percent tax cap — is increase $145,000 or 0.87 percent. The figure is $16.7 million.

The East Hampton Star reported that some parents wanted to see the board increase the budget to accommodate smaller class sizes.

Assuming this year's total assessed value goes down by 1.5 percent, from about $31.1 millon to an estimated $30.7 million, Perna said the tax levy increase — before exemptions — is 2.41 percent. " If assessed value stays the same as this year or increases, the percentage of increase goes down," he said.

Mirras said that over the past two years the assessed value has gone down for the district. "If it goes down, it increases our tax rate."

Perna said the proposed tax rate for the 2013-14 budget is approximately $54.58 per $100 of assessed value, as compared to the current year's tax rate of approximately $53.30. "Again, this is with an estimated decrease in total assessed value. If assessed value goes up, the tax rate will be less than the proposed."

Voters will also have to cast a ballot next month for school board. According to The Star, Theresa Watson is not seeking re-election. Nominating petitions to run for school board are due April 22.

The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 7 at 6 p.m. in the school gym. Voter registration is also May 7 between 2 and 6 p.m.

The budget vote and school board election will take place on May 21 between 2 and 8 p.m.

What do you think of the budget? Would you have liked to see the board increase the budget to keep smaller class sizes?