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Oceanside/Island Park Herald 05-16-2024

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_________ Oceanside/island park ________

HERALD

May 16, 2024

O’Side grad now top Disney chef Page 15

with a focus on programs and activities

VOl. 59 NO. 21

MAY 16 - 22, 2024

IN BUSINESS OVER 65 YEARS IN BU SINESS OVER 65 YEA RS FULLY LICENSED AND INSURE FULLY D LICENSED AND INSUR ED

2024 OCEANSIDE CHAMBER 2024 OC OF COMMERCE BUSINESS EANSIDE CHAMBER OF THE YEAR COMMERCE BUSINOF ESS $1.00 OF TH

$181 million spending plan for Oceanside By KEPHERD DANIEl kdaniel@liherald.com

Courtesy Penny Frondelli

From coma to canvas: a photographer’s journey Oceanside photographer Penny Frondelli unveiled and presented her art exhibit at the Oceanside Library, which was inspired by her rehabilitation after being in a medically induced coma for seven days. She took in the moment with her husband, John, and her son, Alex. Story, more photos, Page 3.

I.P. schools propose $44.3M budget

District impacted by Nassau County’s LIPA settlement By KEPHERD DANIEl kdaniel@liherald.com

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots on the Island Park School District’s proposed $44.3 million budget for the 202425 school year. The spending plan is 2.4 percent larger than the current $43.3 million budget, and includes an increase in the tax levy of 1.99 percent, which is below the district’s allowable cap — the limit on the property increase set by the state for the upcoming year. District officials said the propos-

al will mean a slight increase in taxes resulting from diminished state aid, soaring health insurance costs and necessary building maintenance. The enacted state budget reinstates the “hold harmless” provision for foundation aid, which keeps the Island Park district from receiving a cut in that form of state aid. The schools are facing financial challenges resulting from a $1.5 million loss in revenue from the settlement involving Nassau County and the Long Island Power Authority, which has severely impacted the district’s budget planning process. Continued on page 7 May 16, 2024

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Voters in Oceanside will go to the polls on Tuesday to decide on the school district’s proposed $181 million budget for the 2024-25 school year. The spending plan is just over 4 percent larger than the current $174.3 million budget. After holding budget workshops at each of this year’s Board of Education meetings, the district held its final hearing on the spending plan at the May 8 meeting, and laid out the details, including the proposed tax levy — the money that would be collected from propert y t a x e s — wh i c h wo u l d increase by 1.57 percent, well below the district’s tax cap. The budget aims to maintain all existing programs and services, and would also upgrade technology resources, such as Chromebooks and iPads, for students. As well, it provides funding for facility improvements, including renovations, parking lot maintenance and security upgrades. Universal pre-K is among the spending priorities, and the plan a c c o u n t s fo r i n fl at i o n a r y increases in expenses such as insurance, transportation and special education services.

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The proposal would preserve all programs and full-time staff, but there would be no new programs except a girls’ varsity flag football team. Residents will vote on three other propositions besides the budget: capital reserve projects, a capital reserve fund amendment, and the Oceanside library budget, which totals $7.6 million, up from $7.3 million this year. Proposition 2, the capital reserve projects, include synthetic turf for the baseball and softball field at Oceanside High School, tennis court renovation to accommodate pickleball at the high school, the addition of air conditioning in the high school band room, a small area of synthetic turf at Oaks Elementary School and the construction of two pickleball courts at the Kindergarten Center. “If you look at the football field, it’s a beautiful field, and the baseball field and softball field are in desperate need to get done,” school board Vice President Michael D’Ambrosio said, encouraging residents to vote on Tuesday. “This is going to give all our students a real nice reflection on going out on Continued on page 5


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Oceanside/Island Park Herald 05-16-2024 by Richner Communications, Inc - Issuu