Education

Mattituck-Cutchogue adopts $37 million school budget

The Mattituck-Cutchogue school board is proposing a $37.36 million 2011-12 school budget, to be put before voters on May 17.

The proposed spending plan adopted by the school board April 14, represents a 2.24 percent spending increase over the 2010-11 budget, but a tax rate increase of 2 percent tax for residents in Southold Town. The increase for those living just over the Riverhead Town line in Laurel is 2.03 percent tax.

The district is touting the tax increase as the lowest in 37 years.

The plan calls for an appropriation of $1.16 million from the fund balance, the surplus, to offset the tax increase. Last year the district pulled $900,000 from the fund balance.

The district anticipates receiving $250,293 less in state aid next year and will need to contribute nearly $556,000 more to its teacher retirement plan than last year. In addition, the district will pay nearly $445,000 more in medical and dental insurance for employees.

Four full-time elementary school teachers and four teaching assistants, as well as other support staff, would lose their jobs under the proposed spending plan.

During budget discussions, the school board decided on the cuts based on declining enrollment at the elementary school.

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