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Schools

Bridgehampton School Board Adopts $10.6 Million Budget

The plan will pose a tax rate of $1.52 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, an increase of 7.85 percent from this year.

With very little fanfare, the Board adopted a $10.6 million budget Wednesday -- a 5.63 percent increase in spending.

The spending plan will result in a tax rate of $1.52 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, an increase of 7.85 percent. Under this rate, a homeowner whose property is assessed at $400,000 could expect to pay $608. The tax levy will increase 8.6 percent to $9.2 million. The total budget was not immediately made available to the press.

A budget hearing will be held on May 11, and the budget vote and school board election will be held on May 17.

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The budget was unanimously adopted Wednesday at a meeting of the school board, which was not attended by any members of the public. In a short presentation given by Superintendent Lois Favre, Ed.D., she told board members that some of the changes included greater efficiency in transportation for BOCES students and additional efficiency in the technology department.

After the meeting, Favre explained that the district will cut two bus runs to BOCES that are no longer needed, which will save the district approximately $100,000. The district will also maintain its technology department as is and is not anticipating adding programming; instead, it has contracted with BOCES for that purpose. She added that an increase in speech and language programs will be handled through grant funding.

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She noted that the increases in the budget were due to contractual obligations.

The district is also from $540,194 this year to $485,902.

There was little discussion among board regarding the budget, though member Douglas Degroot did comment on the inefficiencies in transportation he had seen in other school districts, and referred to a conversation with BOCES officials earlier this year in which they said they might be able to help find additional efficiencies.

After the meeting, Favre explained that these possible future discussions would be conducted too late to apply to the 2011-12 budget, though they will be taken into consideration for the following budget season.

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