5 Things You Need to Know About Today's School Budget Vote

Tuesday marks the Garden City school district's 2013-14 budget vote and candidates election.

The budget last failed in 2010 by a vote of 1,662 to 1,459 when residents rejected the proposed $98,275,256 spending plan that called for a budget-to-budget increase of 3.21 percent and a projected tax levy increase of 4.52 percent (with STAR).

Here are five things you should know before heading to the polls to cast your vote in the 2013-14 school budget vote:

1. Voting takes place Tuesday, May 21, in the Garden City High School gym between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. If you cannot be present to vote, you can use an absentee ballot. Applications for absentee ballots are available to qualified registered voters on the district website under “Budget Information” or from the district clerk in the Administration Building, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Completed absentee ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. May 21.

2. The first school budget proposal in February totaled $107,930,252 and called for a 3.56 percent budget-to-budget increase and a projected tax levy increase of 3.86 percent. Today, you are voting on a proposed budget totaling $107,602,366, which calls for a lower budget-to-budget increase of 3.25 percent and a lower tax levy increase of 3.19 percent, thanks to an increase in state aid.

3. In addition to mandated pension contributions, a second driver of the 2013-2014 school district budget, according to school district officials, is debt service (a total of $6,578,879, which is an increase of $605,029 over last year) for the combined monies owed for three bonds: the 2009 School Investment Bond, the 2005 middle school athletic field bond and the 1999 bond for district-wide building improvements, plus the district’s Energy Performance Contract (EPC).

4. Residents are also asked to vote for two Board of Education trustee candidates, Barbara Trapasso and Laura Hastings, both running unopposed for their seats. Students will have the chance to cast their pick in the 2013 Primary and Elementary Field Day Snack Vote between 3-9 p.m. in the gym as well.

5. Because the proposed 2012-2014 budget falls below the maximum allowable tax levy for Garden City Public Schools (3.91 percent), a simple majority (50 percent + 1) is required for passage, according to school district officials. If the budget fails to achieve a simple majority of the vote Tuesday, the Board of Education can either put up the same or an adjusted budget for public re-vote, which, by law, must take place on June 18. If the re-vote fails, the district must then adopt a “contingency” or “austerity” budget with a 0 percent tax increase.

For Patch coverage of the school budget process leading up to the vote, click here. For information about the proposed 2013-14 school budget visit the “Budget Information” section on the district’s home web page.