North Fork School Budget Votes Tuesday: What You Need To Know

NORTH FORK, NY — North Fork voters will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes for the 2022 to 2023 school budgets and school board candidates. Here's a rundown of what you need to know Tuesday before you cast your ballot.

Greenport Union Free School District

The Greenport Union Free School District's $21,627,457 budget reflects a 5.75 percent spending increase; the budget has a tax levy increase of 3.11 percent, which does not pierce the state tax cap, Greenport School Superintendent Marlon Small said.

Three candidates, Babette Cornine, Jaime Martilotta and Emily Latham Whitecavage, are running for two open seats on the Board of Education; incumbents Sandra Martocchia and Kimberly Moore are not running again.

Voting takes place on Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the "Dude" Manwaring gymnasium, located at 720 Front Street in Greenport.

"The last two years have been very challenging for the Greenport school community, as we have worked to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of students in the midst of a pandemic," Small said in his budget message. "We are confident that the proposed budget will enable us to continue to meet the vital needs of our students, staff and school community."

Southold Union Free School District

The Southold Union Free District' Board of Education said the proposed 2022 to 2023 budget of
$32.2 million reflects a 1.9 percent increase and a tax levy increase of 1.71 percent, which is under the tax cap.

Incumbent Board of Education members Judi Fouchet is unopposed for one open seat.

Voting takes place on Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the gymnasium located at 420 Oaklawn Avenue in Southold.

Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District

The proposed $42,829,297 2022 to 2023 budget for the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District reflects an increase of 1.84 percent and a tax levy increase of 1.45 percent.

Three propositions are included in the budget: An approval of the budget, and a proposition that would allow the district to utilize the remainder of the capital reserve fund, voted upon in 2018 — which would not affect the tax levy — to construct a STEM wing in the high school and re-coat segments of the roof at Cutchogue East and Mattituck Jr./Sr. High School. A third proposition would allow the district to establish a 10-year, $10 million capital reserve fund, to be used for maintain and improve the infrastructure of the schools.

The fund, once established, must have voter approval, the district said.

"In our ever-changing world, it is imperative that we plan and prepare our students for the world they will be entering," the Mattituck-Cutchogue Board of Education said.

The budget vote is Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school gym.

Oysterponds Union Free School District

The Oysterponds Union Free School District's proposed 2022 to 2023 budget of $5,582,253 reflects a decrease of 1.77 percent.

Incumbent BOE members Dorothy-Dean Thomas, Miriam Foster, and Thomas Stevenson, as well as Erin Stanton, are vying for three open seats.

Voting takes place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Oysterponds School Gymnasium, located at 23405 Main Road in Orient.