Center Moriches Taxpayers Community Discussion Forum

Facing an uncertain economic climate, voters are making their annual pilgrimage to gymnasiums and cafeterias Tuesday to vote on school budgets and board candidates.

Voters are casting ballots on more than $10.4 billion in spending proposals and hundreds of candidates for their local boards of education. In some districts, the vote included propositions on dealing with busing, capital projects and other issues.

Long Island's 124 public school districts are seeking to raise spending by 2.35 percent and tax levies by 2.72 percent - the lowest figures for each since single-day budget voting began in 1995.

Last year, only eight of 124 budgets failed on the first round of voting - a passing rate of 93.5 percent. Wantagh and East Moriches ended up on austerity budgets.

HuntingtonAt Huntington High School, voters trickled in during early afternoon to weigh in a proposal to raise taxes 2.89 percent for the average homeowner and increase the budget by 1.16 percent.

Resident Glen Manaker said he thought the district officials failed to do "the absolute best they could" in crafting the budget. Still, he voted "yes," thinking of the children, he said.

"The big threat is that the only programs they can cut are the ones that directly benefit the kids," he said.

Long Beach

In Long Beach, Lynda Cohen, 60, of Lido Beach, said she voted for the district's $114.6 million proposed budget, but against a proposed $92.8 million referendum to upgrade school buildings.

"I think my taxes are high enough," said Cohen, a substitute teacher in the district and a retired New York City teacher. "It's not that I'm opposed to the improvement of the schools. I'm opposed to the district asking for more money."

Shoreham-Wading River

As residents filed into the Shoreham-Wading River High School to vote, they seemed divided by parents with children concerned about what they say is the schools' shabby state and senior citizens who see a 26 percent tax increase as unpalatable.

"The middle school is in such disrepair," said Sharon Bendzlowicz, who has a daughter in kindergarten and a toddler. "It'll be worse by the time my kids get there."

Margie Suesser, a 10-year resident with two children in the district, said that student-athletes say the condition of the schools is embarrassing.

"The middle school, especially," she said, adding that a ceiling leaks. "Nothing is up to code."

But Paul Rosa, who voted against the budget, said the district has been too extravagant.

About the budget, "with the way things are today, I can almost guarantee it will go down," he said.

Bob Kaplan, who had two children graduate from the district, said that voting "no" still guarantees a large increase, and that he's in favor of the budget.

"My impression is that we're at parity with our neighboring districts," he said, noting the district's taxes were artificially low for many years. The Shoreham nuclear power plant, which was shut in 1988, once provided about 80 percent of the district's tax revenue.

More recently, the district kept taxes lower by borrowing against anticipated state aid payments after state officials announced in 2006 that the district was entitled to $35.8 million in back aid because the closed plant had remained on assessment rolls, making the district appear wealthier than it actually was.

LawrenceIn Lawrence, voting got off to a rocky start with a dispute about how close to the polling place at the high school people could campaign.

Some said electioneering could take place within 100 feet of a polling place, while others argued it was 500 feet. Nassau Police spokesman Det. Michael Bitsko said Fourth Precinct officers determined the law is within 100 feet from the "designated entrance."

"It was resolved within 15 minutes," Bitsko said. "No voters were interrupted."

Tension has risen in Lawrence between parents of district students and those whose children attend private schools, a group that controls the school board. The board drew the ire of hundreds of parents, teachers and children in the wake of a decision earlier this year to close Number Six Elementary School because of declining enrollment.

Some have said district enrollment is dwindling because of an influx of families who educate their children in private religious schools called yeshivas.

Outside Number Six School Tuesday, about half a dozen parents said the current board doesn't look out for what's best for the district.

With blue and yellow balloons blowing in the breeze, parents snacked on pizza under a tree, passing out fliers and pencils in support of candidate Barry Ringelheim and write-in candidate John Kinder.

Ringelheim explained to an elderly woman how to write in Kinder's name and encouraged her to ask for help inside if needed. "By law, they must help you do this," he told her.

Some voters complained that figuring out how to properly write in a name was confusing.

"I have my master's degree and my bachelor's, and there's no way to figure how to do this," said Florence Kastriner, a grandmother of two children who attend Lawrence schools.

Shelly Rothstein said she found it simple, though she asked three people just to be extra sure.

"It's common sense," she said outside with her daughter, Rebecca, 12, who attends Lawrence Middle School. She voted in favor of the budget and said she hoped others did as well.

A woman whose children attend yeshivas said they voted for the Orthodox Jewish slate: Uri Kaufman and Abel Feldhamer.

"From what I understand, the schools are empty," said Miriam Goodman, 28. "It's not our fault there are less kids in public schools."

Rachel Wintner, 25, who also has children in yeshivas, also said she voted for the Orthodox Jewish candidates.

Zvi Friedman, 52, declined to say how he voted. "I think all the candidates are highly qualified," he said. "I think no matter what, the community will win."

His children, now grown, attended local yeshivas. "I think the public school community should realize this board has done a lot for the community," he said, citing passed budgets in recent years, improved test scores and building repairs.

East RockawayIn nearby East Rockaway, mostly retirees spent the late morning casting votes.

Retired Wall Street executive Frank Venis, 70, said he voted against East Rockaway's spending plan, even though he's confident a supportive community will ensure it passes.

"I want good schools," he said. "But I just want the board to know they can't just put up any amount because they know it will pass."

East Rockaway's proposed budget of $32,733,570 is a 2.28 percent increase over the current budget - and would entail an increase of more than 8 percent in the local tax levy.

Chris Simeti, 59, a retired New York City worker, said schools need to be more conservative with spending.

"They just can't keep raising taxes," he said, adding that Long Island districts should consolidate to save money.

"It's hard times for a lot of people," said Jim Dolan, 52, a construction worker who also voted against the budget.

Bellmore

At the Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center in the Bellmore district, voters had to decide on a $29.9 million budget proposal. The district spending plan would raise taxes 2.6 percent.

Lynn Brown, 55, said he voted against the budget for the first time. "They have to spend money wisely, but they're not," he said.

"I have a very small home and pay over $10,000 in taxes a year. That's high enough," said Gary Novello, 52, who voted no.

Wendy Stein, 45, voted for the budget. "The children need all the programs that are being offered and I don't want to see them get taken away."

Margaret Dahlberg, 78, said she voted for the budget even though her children are grown. "I was once a teacher here, and my kids also went here and they had a good education," Dahlberg said. "So I continue to support them."

Larry Prosky, 51, said he voted yes, even though he has no kids in the district. "I think it's good for the community and the children," he said.

James Edge, 46, also said he voted in favor of the budget. "I always vote for it," he said. "I live in the town and my kids go here."

Long Beach

In Long Beach, Joan Kaufman voted for the budget and a proposition to upgrade district buildings. For the school board, she voted for challengers Gina Guma and Darlene Tangney.

"Part of it was the support of the teachers association. I've heard both women speak many times and I was impressed," said Kaufman, of Lido Beach, a retired schoolteacher who worked in the Plainview district.

Geraldine Birnbaum, 81, of Lido Beach, who has grandchildren in district schools, voted for the budget but against the bond proposition.

"I'm not worried about the renovation. It's not going to collapse," she said, pointing behind her to Lido Elementary School, which shares a campus with Long Beach Middle School.

Glen Cove

In diverse Glen Cove, most voters interviewed Tuesday said they voted in favor of the district's $69.3 million budget proposal, which would raise the tax levy by 4.39 percent.

"To vote no is ridiculous," said Lisa Koenig, 39. "Especially as a parent, you have to vote yes, otherwise schools will become dilapidated."

Added "yes" voter Joanne Ciuzo, 49: "It's always best for the schools and the kids."

Debbie Brooks, 52, said she voted for the budget because district officials "were trying to be fiscally responsible."

But opponents of the budget said the district failed to tighten its belt.

"We feel our taxes are high enough," said Rose Lopiccolo, 74. "Everyone has to make a cut someplace."

One Glen Cove voter was philosophical: "This is the one day each year I get to vote for my taxes to increase," said Tim McCarthy, 51.

Uniondale

Outside Uniondale High School, Maria Rodriguez, 46, said in Spanish that she voted in favor of the district's spending plan. "It's for the children," she said. "It's for all."

Corliss Hawthorne Crosswell, 47, also supported the budget, even though she's concerned about high taxes.

"I think overall in Uniondale, students are progressing," she said. "I hope people come out to vote."

Jeannine Maynard, 53, declined to say how she voted. "I think they've done well to contain costs," she said. She said she's curious to see how the sagging economy will affect voters.

Michael Basnight passed out fliers supporting school board candidates Andre Berry and Mary Barnes-Morton. But he said he hopes the budget proposal fails.

"I'm tired of them taking money and misspending it," said Basnight, 47. "There's too much rubber-stamping."

A.J. Voelpel and staff writers Stacey Altherr, John Hildebrand, Laura Rivera and Patrick Whittle contributed to this story.