Babylon School District budget passes with supermajority needed to pierce tax cap
Without the increase, the district said there could have been drastic cuts in programming and services.
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The budget in the Babylon Union Free School District has passed, despite needing a supermajority as one of only five school districts on Long Island looking to go above the tax cap.
The district's proposed budget passed with a 4.8% school tax increase. The interim superintendent says it's because of inflationary pressures and a relatively small increase in state aid.
Without the increase, the district said there could have been drastic cuts in programming and services.
Babylon is the only school district outside the East End that was trying to go above the tax cap. The other four were Wainscott, Montauk, Spring and New Suffolk.
The vote required a 60% supermajority to pass since it was looking to pierce the cap. The final vote tally was 1,020 yes votes to 626 no votes.
Voters in Babylon had mixed feelings about the proposed tax hike.
Luis Solare, of Babylon says there are places besides the school where money is needed.
Others, however, say the budget needed to be approved.
"I do think it's definitely worth it," says Leigh Hubert. "I have two kids in the district - it's unfortunate that we're in the position we're in, but we can't go back," Hubert says.
