Longwood Community Passes Budget Nearly 2 to 1
MIDDLE ISLAND – The Longwood School District 2013-14 budget earned the approval of voters by a better than 65% margin, with 1,947 YES votes to 1,019 NO votes.
The approved $216,700,000 budget is a spending increase of 2.07%, with a tax levy increase of 3.75%, an amount allowed under the New York State Property Tax Cap Law.
The difference between the percent of the spending increase and the percent of the tax levy increase reflects the decline in state funding to support Longwood School District. Since the 2008-2009 school year, the cumulative loss of state aid to the district is more than $48 million.
“I thank the community for their continued support of educational opportunities for our students,” Dr. Michael R. Lonergan, Superintendent of Schools said. “Your steadfast commitment to education has enabled us to ride out these very difficult years of state funding cuts, and maintain critical programs and co-curricular activities.
Running unopposed, school board incumbents Michael A. Loguercio, Jr. (2,410 votes), and Genine M. Schwinge (2,037 votes) were re-elected to three-year seats.