All Budgets Approved
School budgets in Amagansett, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Montauk, Sagaponack, Sag Harbor, and Wainscott met with strong support on Tuesday, and all but one of the separate propositions before voters — parking and traffic control changes at the Springs School — passed with ease.
Yes votes ranged from about 70 percent of the ballots cast in Springs to more than 85 percent in East Hampton. Administrators and school boards had presented budgets that stayed at or below the state-mandated limits on tax levy increases.
Voter turnout varied by district, but less than 20 percent of registered voters cast ballots across the area. Fewer voters turned out this year than last in East Hampton and Bridgehampton but more showed up in Sag Harbor and Montauk.
In those school board races that were contested, John Ryan Sr. and two incumbents were elected in East Hampton; Tommy John Schiavoni, Stephanie Bitis, and Chris Tice won in Sag Harbor; Steve Graboski defeated a longtime incumbent in Amagansett, and Diane Hausman, the Montauk board’s president, won re-election.
SPRINGS
While voters in Springs approved a $27.36 million budget, they were not receptive to a capital improvement project that would have spent all or most of a $2 million reserve fund on a new parking lot, a reconfigured drop-off/pickup loop, and other physical changes.
By a vote of 232 to 184, about 56 percent of those who cast ballots, the voters said no to these projects even though the $2 million came from an existing reserve and would not have required additional taxes. Outside the polls on Tuesday, James Cebulski, a 20-year resident of Springs, said he voted no because he thought “they don’t need it.”
But Ginny Schmidt and Kerry Baker, longtime Springs residents, voted in favor of it. “I liked it,” Ms. Baker said. “The school is growing. It does need those things.”
Liz Mendelman, the school board president, said the board would now look to the district’s newly established facilities committee and its architect for recommendations.
“I’m certainly pleased that our community supported and passed the school budget, as well as propositions two and three,” Ms. Mendelman said on Wednesday. The budget passed 293 to 121.
Approved in a 321-to-87 vote was the district’s five-year tuition contract with the East Hampton School District. A proposition green-lighting the purchase of a $78,000 wheelchair-accessible van was approved 311 to 87.
The number of voters was on par with last year’s turnout, representing about 10 percent of the approximately 4,200 registered voters in Springs.
Barbara Dayton, the lone candidate for one open seat on the Springs School Board, received 332 votes.
EAST HAMPTON
In East Hampton, John Ryan Sr., a former school board member who ran against three incumbents, won a two-year term on the board with 311 votes. The two victorious incumbents were Christina DeSanti and Liz Pucci, with Ms. DeSanti taking 395 and Ms. Pucci, 370 votes. Deme Minskoff, who was appointed to replace Patricia Hope and ran for the first time, received 286 votes. Mr. Ryan will finish the rest of Ms. Hope’s term, and he was sworn in immediately on Tuesday evening. Six individuals received a combined 11 write-in votes.
The district’s proposed $66.1 million budget included more funding for arts, athletics, and science and technology, with 440 to 73 voting in favor of it. The turnout of 513 voters represented about 8 percent of East Hampton’s approximately 6,300 registered voters.
Richard Burns, the superintendent, said the total number of “no” votes usually falls between 180 and 200, but the district “took a conservative approach” this year. “I’m just thrilled,” Mr. Burns said. “The piece of keeping programs intact, expanding upon programs, and really looking out for the kids, I think, struck a chord with the voters.”
AMAGANSETT
While voters in Amagansett approved all propositions by a wide margin, there was an upset when it came to the school board race. Mary Lownes, who has served on the school board for 13 years, lost to Steve Graboski in a 102-to-75 vote. Mr. Graboski, a 34-year resident of Amagansett and a retired East Hampton Town police officer, won a three-year term.
Ms. Lownes, who was in the school gymnasium awaiting the results, left immediately upon hearing the tally. Eleanor Tritt, the district superintendent, declined to comment on the race.
Voters approved Amagansett’s $10.6 million budget by a vote of 145 to 33. More people cast ballots this year than last, when 137 voters showed up.
Amagansett’s 2015-16 budget will carry a small decrease in the tax levy. Voters also authorized the creation of a capital reserve fund for renovations and upgrades by a 148-to-24 vote, and supported the five-year tuition contract with the East Hampton School District by 158 to 17. The Amagansett Library’s budget of about $938,900 was also approved, 156 to 24.
SAG HARBOR
Sag Harbor’s $37.55 million budget was approved 720 to 246. The budget includes increases in teacher salaries, library and audiovisual materials, recreational activities, and guidance. This year’s turnout of 966 was greater than last year, when 800 voters cast ballots, but those 966 voters represented just 17 percent of Sag Harbor’s total number of registered voters.
Voters on Tuesday also handily approved the district’s plan to establish a $2.5 million reserve fund for future repairs, with a 709-to-243 vote.
The winners of the three seats on the school board, Tommy John Schiavoni, Stephanie Bitis, and Chris Tice, defeated James Sanford and James Ding. Mr. Schiavoni and Ms. Bitis received 723 and 677 votes respectively, earning three-year seats. Ms. Tice took in 605 votes to earn a one-year term.
MONTAUK
In Montauk, voters came out strongly in favor of a proposed 2015-16 budget of just under $19 million with a 295-to-54 vote. The budget preserves a full summer school program and will restore a number of before and after-school programs that were cut several years ago when the state-mandated limit on tax increases was initiated. The turnout of 349 was considerably higher than last year’s 213, but represented only about 12 percent of Montauk’s approximately 3,000 registered voters.
Voters also supported Diane Hausman, the school board president, who is in her 20th year on the board. She received 218 votes to Carmine Marino Jr.’s 137. One write-in candidate received a handful of votes. The five-year tuition contract with the East Hampton School District was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of 317 to 28.
BRIDGEHAMPTON
Bridgehampton voters approved the district’s $12.8 million budget, with 124 votes for it and 31 votes against it. The school’s 2015-16 spending plan calls for a 3.51-percent tax levy increase, although the tax rate is expected to stay flat due to rising property assessments. Of the three school board members running unopposed to retain their seats, Lillian Tyree-Johnson received 134 votes, Ronald White received 133, and Doug DeGroot took in 130.
Last year’s first attempt at a budget that pierced the tax cap drew 247 voters, while the revote drew 385. This year’s total of 155 represented about 13 percent of the district’s 1,220 registered voters.
In an email, Lois Favre, Bridgehampton’s superintendent, said she appreciated those who came out to vote. “We are genuinely proud of the 80-percent passing rate, and excited that Doug, Lillian, and Ronnie will continue to serve on the board. . . . We are pleased that we can continue to provide an exceptional program for our students, and look forward to working together on our goals.”
WAINSCOTT
In Wainscott, where results came in about 15 minutes after the polls closed, all 40 voters approved the district’s budget of just over $3 million. This is Wainscott’s fourth straight budget with a decrease in spending and the third that includes a decrease in the tax levy. Kelly Anderson, the only candidate running for one seat on the board, was re-elected with 39 votes.
SAGAPONACK
Sagaponack’s proposed $1.77 million spending plan was approved by a vote of 15 to 0 with one abstention. The budget includes more funding for equipment and educational materials for its first class of kindergarteners. The school will educate students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade next year before sending its fourth-graders out-of-district in 2016-17. Joe Louchheim, the only candidate running for one seat on the board, was re-elected with 16 votes.