Southampton School Budget, BOE Election Results Are In

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - Southampton residents approved a $67,731,464 2016-17 school budget on Tuesday.

The $67,731,464 budget was approved 609 to 394.

The budget is a 4.04 percent spending increase over the current year and it comes with a tax rate decrease of .94 percent over the current year’s rate, because assessments are up.

Voters also elected, of five candidates running for two seats on the Board of Education, James McKenna, with 612 votes and Anastasia Gavalas, with 344 votes.

The candidates will serve four year terms commencing July 1and expiring on June 30, 2020, to succeed Nicholas Palumbo and Jake Wilson, whose terms expire on June 30.

Residents voted "no" on proposition 3, to authorize $7,750,000 from the district's "Southampton Property Acquisition Facility Construction Capital Reserve Fund," for the acquisition and renovation of property located at 300 and 310 Hampton Road in Southampton, for a district office and resource center. The vote was 418 yes, and 575 no.

Other Propositions:The following organizations function independently from the school district under their own Boards of Directors, which establish their budgets. While they appear on the school district ballot, there is no statutory connection between the school district and any of these entities, the district said.

Proposition 4: Southampton Youth Association:The public voted 735 to 263 in favor of adopting a resolution that the Board of Education of the District be authorized to contract with the Southampton Youth Association in the amount of $400,311 for the 2016-2017 school year for a recreation program for the youth of the school district, subject to the approval of the New York State Division of Youth, and the necessary tax be levied therefore.

Proposition 5: Southampton Historical Museum:The public voted 670 to 322 in favor of adopting a resolution that the Board of Education be authorized to contract for services with the Southampton Historical Museum in the amount of $170,000 for the 2016-2017 school year and the necessary tax be levied therefore.

Read more about the budget on the district’s website here.