Plainview Voters to Decide School Budget Tuesday

Plainview-Old Bethpage voters will decide the fate of the school district's Tuesday.

The polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. at the district's three usual polling places: Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School, Jamaica Avenue School and Old Bethpage Elementary School.

The proposed $137 million budget represents a modest 2.2 percent increase in overall spending. The plan would convert two part-time teachers into full time positions and expand the district's Chinese language program.

The tax levy, the amount to be raised through property taxes, would increase by 2.5 percent. That figure is well under the state’s so-called "tax cap," which is derived from a complex formula and changes from district-to-district. In simple terms, if voters OK today's budget, it will go into effect.

Two longtime school board members, Trustees Evy Rothman and Vice President Amy Pierno, are running unopposed for two open positions on the school board.

will be on the scene when the vote is tallied and have a report late this evening.