The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Board of Education budget for the 2004-2005 school year is $39,546,020, which represents a 9.758 percent increase over the current budget. Copies of the budget are available at each school, the Administration Building on McCoun's Lane and the Oyster Bay Public Library and a budget brochure is being mailed to homes in the community.

In reviewing budget figures, OB-EN Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Chesterton described areas requiring major increases, including personnel (five high school teachers and a reading teacher at Vernon added), retirement and health insurance costs (an increase of $1 million), capital fund replacement (a $600,000 increase), and special education (increase tied to state mandates and Committee of Special Education requirements). Factors expected to affect revenue negatively are a reduction in state aid and lower assessed valuation of property. The budget vote will take place on May 18 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Oyster Bay High School.

The Locust Valley Central School District Annual Budget for 2004-2005 is $55,650,726. This represents an increase of 8.95 percent over last year's budget. The board said more than 5 percent of the increase can be attributed to contractual obligations, including rising health insurance premiums and utility costs, and state mandated employee contributions. These are all fixed costs that the district is required to fund, regardless of whether the budget passes or fails.

The vote will be held on May 18 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at district polling places which include: for Bayville Election District the Bayville Intermediate School; for the Brookville Election District, at the Community Hall, Brookville Reformed Church at the corner of Brookville Road and Wheatley Road and for the Locust Valley Election District, at the Locust Valley High School/Middle School.

Three candidates are running at large for two seats on the Board of Education vacated by Madeleine Ganis and David Wright are Jack Dolce, Joseph Madsen and Donald Rave.