The Amagansett School Board voted Tuesday to put a $13.16 million budget on the ballot in May, including a tax-levy increase that complies with New York State rules.
Also on the ballot will be a bond referendum for $1.8 million, to pay for an overhaul of classroom ventillation. A yes vote would cost taxpayers an additional $4 to $5 per year for 15 years.
Tom Mager, Amagansett’s district treasurer, explained yesterday that the current ventilation units “are from the 1970s, so they’re not as energy efficient as they could be. Some rooms are cold, some rooms are hot, and we’re hoping it’s going to provide some energy efficiency for us. . . . I’m really hoping the community does support this, because it’s good to have the kids in a better environment with proper ventilation.”
The HVAC work is estimated at $1.5 million, but Mr. Mager is budgeting for cost increases because the wait time for state approval of capital projects is at least 10 months, “and there are a lot of unknowns,” he said. Any money left over will be put toward sidewalk repairs and landscaping needs, Mr. Mager said.
Salaries for district employees will collectively rise by about $156,000, up to $5.63 million, and employee benefits would rise by $218,500, up to $2.8 million. Those two categories make up about 64 percent of the budget. “We’re here to educate the kids, so our biggest expense is the salary and benefits,” Mr. Mager said.
For children who age out of the Amagansett School, which goes up to sixth grade, tuition for the East Hampton School District is expected to rise by $100,000, up to $2.25 million, making up a little over 17 percent of the total budget.
Altogether, the $13.16 million budget reflects a year-over-year spending increase of 4.01 percent. The associated tax-levy increase is 2.29 percent, right up to the maximum the district can ask without needing a supermajority of voter approval.
Additionally, Amagansett will ask taxpayers to approve spending $148,610 for a new, large-size school bus to replace a 2015 model that is “showing signs of rust and corrosion from the salt air,” Mr. Mager said. The money for the bus has already been set aside in a reserve account, meaning it will not increase taxes, but voter approval is required.
The budget vote and school board election will be held on May 16. A budget hearing is planned for May 9 at 5 p.m.