By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The Garden City Board of Education officially adopted a budget totaling $90,442,112 at Monday evening's meeting. This is a budget to budget increase of 5.93 percent.

Residents will face a tax levy increase of 4.09 percent. To determine your exact tax increase, visit the district's Web site, www.gardencity.k12.ny.us and click on the link "Property Tax Calculations for Garden City Residents." Through this site, residents can access Nassau County's Web site, where they can type in their tax lot information and find out how much their taxes will increase. The amount will not reflect STAR program discounts.

This year the Board voted to increase the appropriated fund balance by $500,000 to reduce the tax levy. The fund balance is the amount of money carried over into the next school year to help reduce residents' tax burden. The Board also voted to increase the workers' compensation reserve and designate additional funds for post-retirement benefits.

Jeanine Swartz, president of the Garden City Parent Teacher Association, read a statement supporting the budget. The PTA Budget Review Committee thoroughly examined the budget, attended School Board budget meetings and met with administrators, school principals and parents.

"As an organization we support the District's proposed 2007-2008 school budget," she said. "The PTA would like to thank the Board and the Administration for continuing to explore what is cutting edge in education while remaining mindful of the taxpayer. We urge all registered voters to get out and express their opinion by voting on Tuesday, May 15th. Continue to let your voices be heard."

A public hearing on the budget will be held on Monday, May 7. Garden City residents will be able to vote on the budget on Tuesday, May 15.