L&M Publications
Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District 5.21% tax levy increase
The  Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District will place a $131,355,672 budget on the ballot. The new budget represents a 3.35% increase over this year’s budget, and a 5.21% tax levy increase. Residents of Bellmore and North Bellmore will got to the polls to vote on proposed school budgets on Tuesday, May 17, for the 2011-2012 school year.
   
Residents will also vote on Proposition 2, which asks for authorization of capital improvement projects totaling $2,462,355 for the completion of roof work at Calhoun and  Mepham High Schools, and Merrick Avenue Middle School, and roof replacement at Grand Avenue Middle School, as well as track resurfacing at both Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue.  

Merrick - 4.89% tax levy increase
The Merrick School District will place a $42,341,991 budget on the May 17 ballot. This budget represents a 3.31% budget increase and a tax levy increase of 4.89%.
    Two candidates are running unopposed for two positions on the Merrick school board. They are school board members Sheri Iskenderian and Butch Yamali.

North Merrick - 3.96% tax levy increase
The North Merrick School District will place a $26,813,000 budget on the May 17 ballot. This budget represents a 2.11% budget increase and a tax levy increase of 3.96%.
   
Two candidates are running unopposed for the North Merrick school board. They are school board members Jonathan Butler and Dr. Matthew Kuschner.    

North Bellmore School District - 4.46% tax levy increase
The North Bellmore School District will place a $48,029,117 budget on the May 17 ballot. This budget represents a 2.18% budget increase over the 2010-11 budget, and a tax levy increase of 4.46%.
   
For an average home assessed at $380,000, residents would pay an additional $125.18 per year.
   
Two candidates are running for one trustee position on the North Bellmore school board. They are incumbent Nina Lanci and challenger John Ferrara.

By Laura Schofer

Laura Schofer, staff writer for L&M Publications, has been recognized with several awards for many of her feature pieces published in Bellmore and Merrick Life, The Citizen and The Leader.