Patchogue-Medford School Budget: What You Need To Know

PATCHOGUE, NY — The Patchogue-Medford School District voters will cast their ballots on a $128 million spending plan on Tuesday.

The proposed budget-to-budget change is $20,209,161 or a 9.57 percent change, while the budget-to-budget tax levy change is $4,632,118 or 3.76 percent.

The estimated property tax rate increase of 3.92 percent is assuming there is no change in the total assessed valuation of the district, according to school district officials.

Voters will also decide on two propositions.

They include Proposition 1, which poses the question, “Shall the Patchogue-Medford School District budget for fiscal year 2023-2024 be adopted and the requisite portion thereof raised by taxation on the taxable property of the district?”

Proposition 2 asks if officials can expend up to around $8.5 million from the Capital Reserve
Fund from 2018, and $5 million from the Capital Reserve Fund – 2022, plus any accumulated interest for capital improvement projects, including a building addition at the Bay Avenue Elementary School, as well as the relocation of a playground area and backstop; and site improvement projects at various buildings.

The proposition would also allow for site improvements, furnishings, equipment, apparatus, machinery, demolition, and other incidental work or improvements required in connection not to exceed the estimated total cost of $13.9 million.

Voters will also cast their ballots to decide two three-year terms on the Board of Education.

Candidates include incumbents Kelli Anne Jennings and Diana Andrade, and newcomer, John P. Caruso. The candidates who garner the top two votes will be elected to the board.

Write-in candidates can also be proposed for any vacancy.

The vote will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Voting will take place at the following locations:

• South Ocean Middle School
• Medford Elementary School
• Saxton Middle School
• Tremont Elementary School
• Eagle Elementary School

To be eligible to vote in school district's elections, you must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to May 16, 2023, a citizen of the United States, and a registered voter with the Board of Registry or the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Residents can vote via absentee ballot or at their designated district polling place.

For more information, visit the district’s website at www.pmschools.org.