West Babylon School Budget Passes

Residents in the West Babylon School District easily approved a new school budget proposal during a re-vote on Tuesday. 

The $99.3 million budget passed by a margin of 1,432-532. 

After its original $100.6 million budget proposal failed to pierce the tax cap last month, the West Babylon Board of Education slashed $1.3 million from that proposal to get to the budget that was approved by voters Tuesday. 

Since the revised budget proposal was within the state's tax cap, only required a simple majority to pass. School taxes will rise by $96.70 for the average homeowner in the district next year, but school officials say the budget is a net zero percent tax increase as residents will receive an average check of $100.88 as a rebate from the state next fall. 

“This was an extremely difficult budget season, but with the support of the community and a good working relationship between the Board and central administration, the district was able to create a school budget that maintains the majority of instructional and co-curricular programs and sports,” West Babylon Superintendent Anthony Cacciola said in a statement. “We thank the entire community for its support.”