Complete voters guide for Riverhead, SWR schools
Residents of the Shoreham-Wading River district will be asked to vote on a $74.7 million budget. The proposal represents an increase of .95 percent — or $701,500 — over the current school year’s budget.
The spending plan reduces the tax levy by .5034 percent. It will preserve existing programs while adding several new clubs like coding, science olympiad, yoga, Christian club and a middle school cheer team. It could also include funding for new high school electives like website design, college mathematics and introduction to fashion design, among others, said assistant superintendent for finance and operations Glen Arcuri at a meeting earlier this year.
The 2018-19 budget also includes funding for two security guards at the high school, another school psychologist and a contract with an outside agency to provide extra support outside school when needed.
The replacement of two maintenance work vans, concession stand equipment, a minibus and a kiln, as well as Chromebooks for expansion of the 1:1 initiative in the elementary schools, are one-time equipment purchases included in the 2018-19 budget.
Employee salaries and benefits account for a little more than 70 percent of the district’s expenditures for next year. The proposed overall budget for benefits alone, which includes teacher and employee retirement systems and health plan premiums, will be $19,205,941, an increase of 4.18 percent, or approximately $770,000, over last year, while salaries decrease $143,000.
Voting on the budget vote will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, at the high school auxiliary gym.
