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Post by Wantagh Parent on May 29, 2008 14:51:36 GMT -5
Posted today on the district website: WANTAGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 2008-2009 BUDGET REVOTE: JUNE 17TH 6A.M. - 9P.M. AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:
Planning Session/Budget Hearing Thursday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m. in High School Auditorium.
Voter Registration Saturday, June 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Administration Building.
Applications for absentee ballots can be obtained at the office of the District Clerk - 679-6310www.wms.wantaghufsd.k12.ny.us/Spread the word please. CORRECTION as of 6/4: Room 150 for the 6/5 board meeting, not the auditorium.
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Post by ourkids on May 30, 2008 15:47:37 GMT -5
Please pass this very important information along to college students you know who may not be registered or who are registered but were not home from college on May 20th. Also, note the new time to vote. The polls will open at 6am not 8am. Stop in and vote yes before you hop on the train to work. If anyone is aware that they will be out of Wantagh on the 17th, please go to see the District Clerk to obtain an absentee ballot. Finally, please attend the planning session/budget hearing on June 5th at 8pm in the H.S. auditorium. Have a great weekend!
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Post by ourkids on Jun 4, 2008 6:48:50 GMT -5
Please come to the planning session/budget hearing on June 5th at 8pm in the H.S. auditorium. Keep talking to your neighbors about the revote and encourage them to come out and vote if they were unable to the first time. Also, speak with your neighbors who have grade school and younger children not in our school system yet. If the budget fails a second time, it will take at least 8 budgets or 8 years to get back what's been lost. This has an impact on ALL our children!! It takes a long time to make up for all the losses in one year of austerity. The impact is so much larger than the actual increase in our taxes. The people who are in support of the budget are already taking steps to have an ongoing campaign to contact our legislators and speak with them about our current tax situation. We don't want to just pass the budget and forget about the concerns of all people in our community. The YES voters promise also to be part of the solution to help get our budget to a better place for ALL. Please join us in supporting our children this year and continue your support by participating in improving our budget for years to come! LET'S GO WANTAGH!!!
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Post by wantaghcitizen on Jun 4, 2008 8:36:59 GMT -5
Why have a re-vote and not make any changes to the failed budget? Does anyone care about our "neighbors" who voted no? There should have been at the very least a budget cut to cover the $10,000.00 cost to hold the re-voteThis is just another example of how our "close knit community" isn't really that close knit! Until we start having respect for each other our budget problems are not going to change. The last few years budgets have been split very close with those for it and those against it. It should not be a surprise to anyone that it failed this time. Even one part of the bond vote last year only passed by approximately 4 votes. The BOE must address these issues! Someone somehow should explain in writing what is happening with our money so we could understand it and get it to each household before this re-vote. Give us a reason to vote yes.To vote no is the only way the community could voice it's opinion that they are fed-up with the current situation. It is not just about the money. I voted yes in May but now I will vote NO! I feel we have nothing to loose. We already have been told that there were major cuts in the sports and other services even if the budget passed. And if it fails it is only a $200 savings, so what are we fighting for? It seems the "no" vote is the only way the BOE will get the message. To shove this budget back in our face without making any changes is a total disrespect to those who voted no. Those people should make a stance and don't sub-come to the pressure of these "neighbors" who only care about themselves!
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Post by dotherightthing1 on Jun 4, 2008 10:07:35 GMT -5
ourkids, who said it would take 8 years to get back anything lost if the budget fails? This is not a fact, just more scare tactics.
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Post by hightax on Jun 4, 2008 12:24:24 GMT -5
ourkids - It is this type of DISINFORMATION that has put the Wantagh community in the position that it is in now. If Wantagh adopts an austerity budget cuts will be made at the BOE discretion and the next year when the BOE present a proper budget it will pass and EVERTHING that was taken out can be restored. It is that simple nothing will take 8 years.
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Post by ourkids on Jun 4, 2008 15:19:05 GMT -5
I will be at the budget planning session tomorrow and I will ask the BOE how long it takes a district to regroup after being on austerity. It was not my intention to use that information as a scare tactic or to give MISINFORMATION. I go on this website only because I care and would like to pass information on to the community. I have just sent an e-mail to several people in the district to receive more information about the impacts of austerity budgets on districts in the years following. I will pass it along as soon as possible.
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Post by iteach on Jun 4, 2008 15:53:10 GMT -5
High Tax - If I am not mistaken, if we go on an austerity budget, what gets cut is not at the BOE's discretion. There are strict NY and Federal guidelines that the Board must follow. Many things, such as sports and other extra curricular activities automatically get cut and only the basics can be funded. If necessary, to meet the financial guidelines, teachers and other cuts will need to be made so that guidelines are adhered to.
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Post by halo on Jun 4, 2008 16:00:28 GMT -5
i wont be able to be at the meeting tomorrow night nor will any "concert" parents from wantagh elem. i do hope that i will be able to get my info from this board and the kind people who spend their time reaching out to the community with the info they have received.. i would especially appreciate any info on a reason to vote no.. i have seen and believe in many reasons to vote yes but other than showing the boe our displeasure with them i cant think of one good reason. i thank you in advance for keeping me up to date.
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Post by ourkids on Jun 4, 2008 17:08:26 GMT -5
halo- I will be happy to take down some notes and pass them along on this board to you following the meeting. I don't think there is one good reason to vote no. Keep thinking positive halo and vote yes. Is the budget planning meeting in room 150 or the middle school cafeteria? If WES has a concert, they will be using the auditorium. Let us know if you know.
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Post by dotherightthing1 on Jun 4, 2008 17:55:26 GMT -5
The BOE has some discretion in what to cut if the budget is defeated. Sports and extra activities don't have to be cut, there are other cuts, such as administration that can be made. The main reason for a no vote is that the spending is too high and some members of our community can't afford it. The BOE needs to present a budget that reflects the difficult economic conditions. Our community is comprised of individuals with different wants and needs. Our BOE needs to show leadership and make the difficult decisions that will allow everyone in Wantagh a chance to live here and enjoy our town.
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Post by Wantagh Parent on Jun 4, 2008 20:50:18 GMT -5
ourkids, it is scheduled to be in room 150 since the Wantagh El spring concert is in the auditorium.
Anyone can start a new thread on this message board. ourkids, you are welcome to do so about the board meeting. If you don't I will for everyone.
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Post by hightax on Jun 4, 2008 22:15:41 GMT -5
iteach - interscholastic sports and other things do not get cut automatically. Actually the contingency budget does not state that you must automatically cut specific budget items. When you create a contingency budget you look at what you can not cut. I know this is news to the current BOE since they never created one.
The items which must be excluded when determining total expenditures that are subject to the percentage limitation under a contingency budget include the following:
Costs related to increases in student enrollment including the new pre-kindergarten enrollment. Expenditure of gifts and grants in aid and use of insurance proceeds. Non- recurring expenditures in the prior years budget. Expenses related to tax certiorari proceedings. Expenses related to court orders or judgements. Emergency expenses necessary as a result of damage or destruction of a school building or school equipment. Capital expenditures including debt service and leases resulting from projects approved by the voters.
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Post by hightax on Jun 4, 2008 22:18:48 GMT -5
iteach - Remember we are decreasing enrollment
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Post by forall on Jun 4, 2008 23:52:29 GMT -5
The BOE has a real decision to make that can effect all our students. I was very suprised and disappointed that the BOE decided so quickly to present the same budget to a community that had clearly made their feelings known through a vote and a meeting. I was originally happy that there was to be a revote, but I do not believe the BOE listened to what the community was saying. They needed to take time to look at the budget AGAIN and cut. Now we are to vote yes on a budget that is the same, and are "allowed to fundraise" to the price tag of $114, 000. There seems to be something wrong here. By a revote of the same budget, it is saying, that the BOE did not like the outcome, so we have a second chance to vote, and maybe it will go the way the BOE wants it too. In addition, the original number for the combined sports teams was $81,000, now that it is for the community to raise it is $114, 000- has any BOE member addressed the discrepency. I hope it will be addressed tomorrow evening. There is so much inaccurate info. in the community and unclear answers by the BOE. When will the cuts occur within the organization- there is alot of excess spending. When financial times are tough, I think it was negligent of this BOE not to have demanded some cuts in administration. We heard sports and extracurricula activities were the big money. Has anyone looked at some of the sdministrators' salaries and increases? Why are the taxpayers and the children always the ones to take the cuts AND come up with more money? This community needs to ask the tough questions and expect real solutions. We are no longer getting our "bang for our buck" as I have heard so often. Our children are not scoring way above other districts, our programs are being cut and still our taxes are to be raised the highest amount in Nassau County. It will be a challenge for me at the revote for the first time in years.
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