Smithtown 2020-21 School Budget Easily Passed

SMITHTOWN, NY — Residents within the Smithtown Central School District boundaries voted to approve the 2020-21 school budget by a margin of 7,345 votes to 3,726.

Residents voted on the district's proposed $255,203,276 spending plan for the school year, a 1.50 percent increase from the current budget. To fund the increase, the district proposed a tax levy of $201,458,364 up 1.82 percent from the current year's.

Board of Education incumbents Matthew Gribbin, Frank James and Jerry Martusciello all retained their seats. Kevin Craine challenged for James' seat, but ultimately came up short, securing 4,104 votes to James' 5,479.

This year, constituents voted by absentee ballot due to the coronavirus.