Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Sands Point
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Friday, April 15, 2022
Vol. 7, No. 15
Port WashingtonTimes HOME DESIGN, LAWN & GARDEN
DEMS, BLAKEMAN CLASH ON COUNTY GAS TAX
SUOZZI SLAMS HOCHUL ON BUDGET, BENJAMIN
PAGES 25-32
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R U B B E R M AT C H
Port ed board proposes $174.8M spending plan A 4.5% increase that would raise the tax levy by 2.5% BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z The Port Washington school district outlined a proposed $174.8 million budget for the 2022-23 school year during Tuesday night’s public meeting. The $174,799,928 budget is a 4.5 percent increase from this year’s adopted $167,268,942 budget. The budget calls for a 2.5 percent increase in the tax levy, which falls below the state-mandated cap. The 2022-23 tax levy is proposed to be slightly more than $150.5 million. Some of the main expenditures that caused the budget to increase, outside of general inflation, were the need for new furniture in cafeterias
and classrooms, a stage curtain for the middle school auditorium, upgrades to the district’s security server, a new facilities truck with a plow, and a handful of new teaching positions not funded by the American Rescue Plan as five were in 2021-22. The athletics requests include a JV football assistant coach position, the replacement of outdated or worn football, lacrosse, soccer and gymnastics equipment as well as the purchase of additional pieces to account for increases in enrollment and additional middle school boys and girls winter track coaching positions. The athletics department currently includes 49 varsity and junior varsity teams at the high school and
32 teams at the middle school, with over 23% participation at the high school level and over 16% at the middle school level. According to Kathleen O’Hara, assistant superintendent of business, supply costs for the creative arts have increased significantly due to the increasing use of technology and field trips resuming after the lifting of COVID restrictions. There will also be a significant increase in utilities for next year (a 52% increase in electricity and 27% increase in gas). There is also a five-year roof replacement schedule being put in place. Transportation makes up 5 percent of the budget. The Port Continued on Page 37
Manhasset man charged with illegal possession of cache 18 guns, ammunition found in home of Matthew Spigner: police BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
PHOTO COURTESY OF PORT WASHINGTON ATHLETICS/INSTAGRAM)
Port Washington’s Michael Andrew helped his team defeat Herricks 2-0 last week with a seven-strikeout performance.
A Manhasset man who possessed a cache of unregistered weapons at his house was arrested by Nassau County police last week, law enforcement officials said. Matthew Spigner, 69, was expected to be sentenced to probation this week for illegally possessing a cache of guns in a previous case.
Then police uncovered another group of weapons, including 12 pistols and six revolvers, at his Circle Drive residence, officials said. Spigner’s cache of weapons also included silencers, gun parts, assorted knives, ammunition, a cane sword and ammunition feeding devices, according to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. Ryder said officials will work to
obtain a warrant to determine if the weapons were for personal use or if Spigner was attempting to sell them. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Spigner was expected to be sentenced to five years probation on Tuesday after police previously found pistols, revolvers, assault rifles, high capacity magazines, silencers, a bulletproof vest Continued on Page 37
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