North Fork School Budgets All Pass

NORTH FORK, NY — The public has spoken, turning out on Tuesday to cast their votes for North Fork school district budgets and Board of Education elections.

Beginning with the Greenport Union Free School District, where the polls closed at 8 p.m., the proposed 2017-2018 budget of $18,365,500 passed by a landslide, with a vote of 235 to 55.

The budget does not pierce the state tax cap, and has a tax levy increase of 3.8 percent and a total budget increase from the current year's of 2.42 percent.

In addition, the public voted in favor of a referendum by the Board of Education that will establish a capital reserve fund for improvements and upgrades to an aging building, by a vote of 232 to 55.

The board of education voted unanimously a resolution at their March 21 meeting to put the ballot proposition to the public on Tuesday, the day of the school budget vote.

“This reserve will represent a financially prudent and wise fiscal position for the taxpayers of Greenport,” Greenport Board of Education President Babette Cornine said.

According to a release from Greenport School Superintendent David Gamberg, the reserve fund would allow the district to place an amount up to $750,000 for each of the next 10 years into the fund, to be used for specific capital improvements in the district.

The reserve would only be funded when monies are available; there may be years where little or no funds are placed into the reserve and other times when funds up to the $750,000 may be placed into the reserve, the release said.

“Many of the district’s reserves are appropriately funded, and this new reserve addresses the critical area of supporting an aging building,” Charles Scheid, assistant superintendent for business, said.

Gamberg added, "This is a great way to save money now for capital improvements in the future that will reduce the level of borrowing, and not increase taxes to make improvements to the school building. This protects the community’s investment in quality facilities.”

Once established, the capital reserve fund requires voter approval for any proposed expenditure, the district said in the release.

“It is very important to note that the voters will have the final say before any funds are expended,” Greenport Board of Education Vice President Kirsten Droskoski said.

According to the resolution, the capital reserve fund, known as the "Facilities Improvement Program 2017" would be used for capital improvements including classroom renovations and upgrades, renovations to the gym, auditorium, cafeteria, library and multi-media center, and a host of other improvements, including security, plumbing and electrical upgrades.

Incumbent Kristen Droskoski ran unopposed for one open seat on the Board of Education and received 237 votes.

"I am pleased that the budget and capital reserve fund passed and I thank all those who came out and voted for me also. I look forward to serving another three years and doing what's best for our children," Droskoski said.

Southold Union Free School District

The Southold Union Free School District's proposed budget for 2017 to 2018 of $29,440,000 passed easily, by a vote of 451 to 108.

The Southold Free Library budget vote passed, 469 to 91.

The Southold Union Free School budget reflects an increase of 1.49 percent from the current year — the budget does not pierce the tax cap.

The tax levy increase of 1.52 percent is at the tax levy cap as calculated by using the New York State formula, which includes allowable exclusions.

The budget maintains current programs for students; continued shared costs with the Greenport Union Free School District leads to increased opportunities, the district said.

Scott Latham and Brian Tobin ran unopposed for two open seats on the Board of Education. Latham garnered 491 votes and Tobin, 480.

Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District

The proposed budget for 2017-2018 of $40,765,316 passed 414 to 147.

The budget reflects an increase of 1.07 percent, and stays under the New York state tax cap; the estimated tax levy increase is 0.0167 percent.

Brian Anderson and Charles Mealy ran unopposed for two open seats on the Board of Education; Anderson garnered 471 votes and Mealy, 486.

Oysterponds Union Free School District

The proposed budget school district of $5,704,425 passed by a wide margin of 116 to 25.

The budget reflected a budget to budget increase of .487 percent.

Two incumbents, Board of Education President Jeffrey Demarest and Vice President Janice Caulfield are ran unopposed for new three year terms; Demarest received 121 votes and Caulfield, 120 .

New Suffolk Common School District

The proposed 2017 -2018 budget of 1,111,701 passed, 52 to 14.

The budget reflected a tax levy increase of 6.5 percent, piercing the tax cap and requiring approval of 60 percent of voters; more than 78 percent voted "yes" to pass the budget.

Tony Dill ran unopposed for one open seat on the Board of Education and received 59 votes.