Hicksville Schools Budget Vote: Everything You Need To Know

HICKSVILLE, NY — Residents in Hicksville Public Schools will vote next month for Board of Education members and the proposed 2020-21 budget, even as the district warned of uncertainty over how much state aid it will receive this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Voting this year will only be available by absentee ballot, which will be mailed to every eligible voter in the district with a paid-postage envelope. All ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on June 9, the district said. Candidates for the library's board of trustees will also appear on the mail-in ballot.

Hicksville Public Schools Proposed 2020-21 Budget

In a presentation on the budget, the district said its short-term goal is to have liquidity, flexibility and cash on hand, while its long-term goal is to remain solvent. It noted that the state's budget deficit will affect the amount of state aid it receives, and that if the state's revenue is less than expected or spending is higher than projected, the budget can cut aid to districts.

"We anticipate a reduction in 2020-2021 State Aid revenue that can range from $2.5 million to $4 million," the district said.

To minimize the impact of the shortfall, the district decreased its state aid revenue by $1M and offset that cut by increasing revenue from appropriated reserves. This includes using $1 million from the reserve for teachers retirement system. The district also used a surplus from the 2019-20 budget to increase its "rainy day" fund up to $3 million, noting that if it does not need that money, it will be transferred back.

• 2020-21 proposed budget: $140 million
• 2019-20 proposed budget: $139.4 million
• Budget increase (percent): + 0.4 percent
• Tax levy 2020-21: $106 million
• Tax levy 2019-20: $104.5 million
• Tax levy increase (percent): 1.45 percent

Repairs

Voters will also weigh in on plans to replace the high school roof and buy pool tile for the pool. The $1.3 million needed for the projects will be taken from the 2017-18 Capital Reserve and will come at no additional cost to taxpayers.

Gregory Museum

Also on the ballot this year: a $60,000 yearly appropriation for education services associated with programs at Gregory Museum. This proposition can only pass if the school budget passes.

Board of Education And Library Trustee Election

UPDATED:

Four people are running for Kevin Caroll's Board of Education seat: Irene Carlomusto, Juan Carlos Cerro, Andrea Mieles and Keith Schafer.

Christopher Amato is seeking re-election, as is Sunita Manjrekar. Both are running unopposed.

Mary D'Antonio is also running unopposed for library trustee.

Ballot Box Locations

Locked and secured ballot boxes are located at the front entrances of school buildings.

• Burns Avenue Elementary School at 40 Burns Ave.
• Dutch Lane Elementary School at 50 Stewart Ave.
• East Street Elementary School at 50 East St.
• Fork Lane Elementary School at 4 Fork Ln.
• Lee Avenue Elementary School at 1 Seventh St.
• Old Country Road Elementary School at 49 Rhodes Ln.
• Woodland Elementary School at 85 Ketchams Rd.
• Hicksville Middle School at 215 Jerusalem Ave.
• Hicksville Administration Building at 200 Division Ave.

Click here to view a sample ballot.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article included candidate names from the 2018 sample ballot. The article has been corrected to include names on the 2020 ballot.