Levittown School Budget Voter's Guide

Levittown residents will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on a $195,590,207 adopted school budget with a tax levy of 2.98 percent.

Three candidates have filed to run for two available seats on the board of trustees – incumbents Peg Marenghi and James Moran, and newcomer Peter Zirogiannis.

The budget calls for the equivalent of 15 full-time positions being eliminated, which is comprised of 22 people, some of whom are full-time, some of whom are part-time and some full-time becoming part-time, Superintendent Dr. James Grossane told Patch. 

Additionally, there is a combination of 20 full and part-time teacher aide and clerical positions that are being eliminated, some through attrition and some are cuts, Grossane said. They are comprised of three full time clerical positions at central office, six part-time clerical positions, and full-time and part-time teacher aide positions. 

The board is also asking voters to approve the creation of a $25 million capital reserve fund for improvements, including site work, construction, reconstruction, renovation and equipping of school buildings and facilities. The district said in a presentation that the capital reserve fund has no impact on the tax levy and requires voter approval before any specific work on a capital project can begin.

The adopted budget of $195,590,207 is a $5,593,626 increase from last year. Total employee benefits have increased $6.39 million or 14.92 percent, with health insurance increasing about $1.75 million or 10.32 percent. Other increases include teacher salaries in K-6, with a $1.36 million increase, and teacher salaries in 7-12, with an increase of $2.41 million, according to the budget posted on the Levittown Schools website.

While the budget includes scheduled “step” raises for its bargaining units as per law, there are no estimated teacher salary increases, Grossane said. 

Also on the ballot is the the Levittown Library budget of $7.25 million, a 2.2 percent increase. The budget proposes an average annual tax of $413.42 per household – an increase of $9.17 per household from last year’s total of $404.25, the library said in a release. Margaret Santer is an incumbent running unopposed for the open seat as a library.

The budget vote takes place on Tuesday, May 21 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the following schools: Gardiners Ave., East Broadway, Levittown Memorial Education Center, and Division Avenue High School. Find your polling location here.

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