The Huntington school district is seeking approval of a budget with a zero-increase in the tax levy in voting Tuesday, as well as approval of two capital reserve fund propositions, neither of which affect this year’s taxes.
The proposed budget totals $142,968,343, an increase of 2.62 percent over the current year’s spending plan. If the budget passes, the levy will not increase from the current year’s $112,718,438.
Voters will also be asked to approve two incumbents, William Dwyer and Michele Kustera, for re-election.
Some of the highlights of the budget that the district lists are:
• Responds to student needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Accounts for aid stemming from federal stimulus funding packages.
• Upgrades and enhances district infrastructure and facilities.
• Staffing additions include an innovation lab teacher at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School; a new high school art teacher along with a new secondary business teacher and computer science/technology teacher; a new elementary teacher, district-wide ENL teacher, elementary RtI math teacher and secondary special education teacher.
• Funds new classroom furniture and new vehicles for the buildings and grounds department.
• Allocates $625,000 for a solar project at Jefferson Primary School.
• Provides for standards based curriculum and resource updates.
• Supports new computer science curriculum components and courses.
• Funds a new video broadcasting program and facility at the high school.
• Contains monies for a new junior Virtual Enterprise program at Finley Middle School.
• Provides funding for the installation of air conditioning/climate control units in district classrooms.
• Provides for the continued expansion and replacement of instructional technologies.
• Funds 70 interscholastic athletic teams for students in grades 7-12 and provides for enhanced elementary grade level intramurals.
Voting will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Huntington High School.