At the last Herricks Board meeting Assistant Superintendent of Business Helen CosHerricks Changes Budget Ratetigan announced that due to the change of the amount of monies to be allocated to the district, by the state, the district is able to lower the percentage rates.

The total spending budget for this year will be $92,190,196 over last year's budget of $87,308,568, which amounts to a budget-to-budget rate of 5.59 percent with a tax levy of 5.89 percent.

Costigan pointed out that the property tax report card was required to be submitted to the state by April 26 and this year the state is requiring a report on the Reserved Fund Balance. For 2007-2008 that amount is $3,364, 054 and the district is asked to estimate for next year and that estimate is $3, 270,000.

The state is also requiring the appropriated fund balance for this year which is $1,200,000 and an estimate for next year which is $1, 200, 000. The unreserved, unappropriated fund balance for this year is $2, 168, 574 and estimate for next year as $2, 210,000. The percent of the total of the unreserved, unapproriated fund balance for this year is 2.48 percent and for next year 2.40 percent.

However, Costigan pointed out that at the May 8 meeting of the Herricks Board she would have the exact tax rate and after receiving that number residents may go online and they would be able to determine to determine the increased amount they would pay for their individual property.

In other matters, at the meeting the board voted on the BOCES budget of $17,687,092 which is an increase of 4.4 percent.

The board then voted to elect William Stris and to re-elect trustees Eric Schultz and Stephen Witt.

The board then accepted a gift of a domestic stove from Carol Webster. She has requested that the stove be used at the High School in Ms. Morales' Home Economics class.

The board accepted a gift from an anonymous donor of the following:

• 47" Toshiba HDLCD television

• TV Stand

• Two wireless microphones

• DV video camera

It has been requested, by the donor, that the equipment be used at the Denton Avenue School.

The board granted their authorization to extend its agreement with Network Outsource, 135 Denton Avenue, New Hyde Park to provide high-level network and computer support to the district from May 12 to June 30, (35) days at the discounted New York State contract rate, not to exceed a maximum of $19,600. The contract is for eight hours a day at $70 per hour.

Further, the board agreed to extend the contract, approved by the board on Dec. 6, '07, for a temporary outsourced computer services technician for a period of 24 days from April 28 through May 20 at a cost not to exceed $9,409 which amounts to $49 per hour.

Due to two such specialists resigning, the board has been unable to find anyone from the civil service list to replace them and therefore needs to engage the temporary support.

The board voted to appoint Debra Virzera and Margaret Joyce to act as Chief Election Inspectors and the following to act as Inspectors of Election:

Agnes Ann Adamopoulos, Theresa Fiorentino, Doris Gaisser, Margery Kiesel, Joan Markham, Floria Marra, Lyndia Pettinator, Phyllis Renna, Susan Feuer, Carol Scaldaferri, Alma DeMenna, Barbara Jaye, Kathryn Reynolds, Lucille Romano, Linda Sammarone, Ann Vendinello, Lisa Virzera, Katelyn Warren, Theresa Zutlas, Stella Siegel, Carol Roller, Beth Krass and Rhiannon Pettinato.

The following are appointed to act as assistant clerks to the election process:

Agnes Baratta, Alice Bonnici, Mary Capozzi, Catherine Carr, Celayne Fields, Elizabeth Gener, Diane Rudman, Pat Schelp, Rosalie Szoke and Rosemary Wilenski.

The following were named as special poll clerks to cast and canvass sealed ballots filed with the inspectors of election: Debra Virzera, Susan Feuer and Judith Miehling and the following have been named as alternatives: Linda Sammarone and Margaret Joyce.

The board then approved an amendment to the agreement between the Herricks Teachers' Association (HTA) and the Herricks Union Free School District.

The board also approved a general resolution to participate in a cooperative bid coordinated by BOCES for the purchase of various commodities/and or services.

The board then adjourned its meeting. The next regular meeting and budget hearing will be held on May 8 at 7:15 p.m. at the Herricks Community Center, 999 Herricks Road, New Hyde Park.