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 2023 to 2024 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 2023 to 2024 $23, 709,875 budget reflects a 9.63 percent spending increase; the budget has a tax levy increase of 6.5 percent, which is within the district's state tax levy cap, Greenport School Superintendent Marlon Small said.

"In developing the 2023 to 2024 school budget, the district reviewed the current programs and services that are offered to our students. Our instructional programs and the numerous extracurricular activities are instrumental in enhancing the academic, artistic, and athletic experiences of our students. As such, we have developed a budget that aims to preserve and protect those programs for our students for the upcoming school year," Small said. "The proposed budget will also maintain funding for our pre-K program, NJROTC program, Advanced Placement courses, robotics program and the more than 18 sports programs that are offered to our students."

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.

Candidates including incumbent Kirsten Droskoski and Amanda Clark are vying for one open seat on the Board of Education.

Southold Union Free School District

The Southold Union Free District' Board of Education said the proposed 2023 to 2024 budget of$33,168,000 reflects a 2.99 percent increase. A proposition is on the agenda to expend capital reserve funds, not in excess of $3,478,900, for new boilers.

Six candidates are vying for three open BOE seats: Incumbents Scott Latham and Brian Tobin are facing off with Thomas Grattan Jr., Thomas Kennedy, Kristian Prior and Marta Thomas. The third-highest vote getter will serve the two-year term created by longtime incumbent Judi Fouchet's resignation.

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 Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District's proposed 2023 to 2024 budget of 44,016,344 includes a budget-to-budget increase of $1,187,047 and a proposed tax levy increase of 2.74 percent, below the tax levy cap.

"Current economic times have presented challenges that have required a responsible, but difficult, budget process to take us into the 2023 to 2024 school year," the BOE said in the budget newsletter. "Due to declining enrollment, our obstacles are many, but with the thoughtful, fiscally forward-looking superintendent and administration, we have established a budget that continues to enhance our students’ learning opportunities while being ever mindful of the taxpayers’ struggles in our community.

"Within this budget, optimal class sizes, new electives and Advanced Placement classes, as well as a new collaboration with BOCES to provide a carpentry program for the North Fork schools, are all needed to prepare for the new STEM wing we anxiously await. All of this and so many of the traditions our district holds dear are supported in this budget. As a district, we continue to provide rigor and choice in our curriculum, robust extracurricular activities, multiple athletic opportunities and an appreciation for the arts. Recent retirements, dual certifications and a need for fewer sections has offered us a chance to reduce staffing while maintaining an exceptional educational standard."

There is also a proposition on the ballot to disburse $4.4 million from the capital reserve; those funds have already been approved by the community, the Mattituck-Cutchogue BOE said.

"The approval will have no effect on the tax levy, but will allow the roofs in both Mattituck Junior-Senior High School and Cutchogue East Elementary to receive much-needed repairs that will last for many years to come," the BOE said.

Three candidates, incumbent Patricia Arslanian and challenges Lauren Ocker and Lorraine Warren, are vying for two open BOE seats.

Voting takes place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m in the high school gymnasium.

Oysterponds Union Free School District

The Oysterponds Union Free School District's proposed 2023 to 2024 budget of $5,582,823 reflects

an increase of 0.42 percent.

BOE candidates and incumbents Jeffrey Demarest and Janice Caufield are running unopposed.

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

New Suffolk Common School

The district's 2023 to 2024 budget of $1,188,645 represents an increase of 8.21 percent.

Longtime BOE member is retiring and Brooke Dailey is running unopposed.

Voting takes place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.