TODAY: Amity School Budget Referendum

Residents in Orange, Woodbridge and Bethany are encouraged to vote Wednesday in a budget referendum for Amity Regional School District #5.

The district is requesting a 1.98 percent increase of $865,293 over the current fiscal year's budget, for a total of $44,478,455.

An additional $589,983 in funding for salaries and an added $127,362 in funding for medical and dental insurance are the main drivers of the requested increase, according to a budget outline on the district's website.

Salaries are based on 313.3 "full-time equivalent positions," the outline states.

The proposed budget adds:

• 1.6 full-time equivalent positions, including mandated special education staff and 0.5 security guard for the high school ($71,476).
• $229,358 for replacement computers, laptops and other technology equipment.
• $97,006 for building and on-site improvements, including sidewalk repairs, asphalt sealing, cracks in parking lot and re-sodding football field.

Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Polling locations are as follows: Town Hall in Bethany, Center Road School in Woodbridge and High Plains Community Center in Orange.