While school districts across Long Island are making cuts to fit within New York State's tax cap, the Elwood Union Free School District is asking voters to go above the limit to avoid reductions altogether.

The Elwood Board of Education adopted a budget that includes a 4.20% tax levy increase, which is above the 1.29% state limit. If approved, district officials said households would pay an extra $14 - $29 a month in taxes based on their homes' assessed value compared to what they would have paid under a tax-compliant budget.

District officials said a tax cap-compliant budget would've required $1.5 million in cuts, including one administrator, six teachers, elementary music programs, three teaching assistants, three paraprofessionals, one clerical position, one custodian, security, elimination of all middle school athletics as well as reductions in BOCES programs, academic intervention services, field trips and district-wide supplies.

The district blamed the financial situation on rising costs that outpaced projected revenues.

In a letter to the community earlier this month, the board wrote in part: "The administration and Board were confronted with a critical choice for this year’s budget: either reduce programs or propose a tax levy increase that exceeds the cap to address the projected budget deficit for the coming school year. Recognizing such reductions would have a significant impact on students and further compound funding challenges for the future, the district felt it important to present a proposed budget that would preserve the integrity of current programs and offerings."

Going over the cap requires a 60% supermajority to approve the budget opposed to the usual 51% simple majority.

If the budget is not approved, the board could propose the same budget for a revote, present a revised budget for a new vote or adopt a contingent budget.

If a budget fails a second time, the district is required to adopt a contingent budget that would include $2.2 million in cuts from the current proposal.

The board of education is holding two additional public information sessions about the budget next week on Tuesday, May 13, at Elwood Middle School at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, May 14, at the Elwood Public Library at 6 p.m.

The statewide school budget and board member vote is on Tuesday, May 20.