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Mattituck adopts budget $20,000 under tax levy cap

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The Mattituck school board has adopted a $40.3 million spending plan, which carries a 0.4 percent increase to next year’s tax levy.

That percentage is nearly $20,000 under the state-mandated tax levy cap of 0.46 percent increase for next school year, district business manager Michael Engelhardt said during Thursday’s school board meeting.

Mr. Engelhardt said each homeowner could see a $7 to $9 hike in their property taxes if the adopted budget is approved.

A full-time security position and storage facility was recently added after the district received additional state aid, Mr. Engelhardt said.

“With all those small changes, the tax rate and budget increase all remain roughly about the same,” Mr. Engelhardt said.

The school is also looking to purchase more automated external defibrillators, hire a part-time physical trainer, increase mental health initiatives, upgrade computer software, add security cameras and a visitor management system.

As for this year’s school board race, Superintendent Anne Smith announced Tuesday that a “Meet the Candidates” night has been scheduled for May 5 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Seven candidates are running for the three empty seats: incumbent William Gatz and newcomers Edward Hassildine, MaryLynn Hoeg, Brian Mealy, Tonya Kaiser-Witczak, Barbara Talbot and George Haase.

School board vice president described the race as “wonderful.”

“There were many years when we never had anybody — we’ve even had a write in candidate win because no one else was running,” he said, referring to the 2013 school board election.

This year’s budget and school board vote is scheduled for May 17.

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Photo: Thursday’s Mattituck school board meeting. (Credit: Nicole Smith)