School budgets sailed through this week in Springs, Montauk, Sagaponack, Wainscott, and Sag Harbor, where there were no contested elections and spending plans stayed within the state-imposed cap on tax-levy increases.
Springs School voters gave next year’s $39.06 million budget a resounding yes, 180 to 39. The 2026-27 budget represents a 1.78-percent spending increase and a 2.25-percent increase in the tax levy. The incumbent board members, Patrick Brabant, a member since 2017, and Katie Sarris, first elected in 2023, had no challengers and were returned to their posts for new three-year terms with 170 and 192 votes respectively.
Montauk voters overwhelmingly approved a $25.67 million budget and a proposal to create a repair reserve fund using up to $750,000 of unreserved unappropriated fund balance from this fiscal year. The budget vote was 152 to 34; the repair reserve fund had 159 for and 27 against. Nick Finazzo, an incumbent board member running unopposed, was returned to the board for another five-year term.
Sag Harbor’s $53.56 million budget passed 367 to 85. The approved budget carries a 2.3-percent spending increase and a 2.95-percent tax-levy increase. Voters also okayed a proposition to purchase three new school buses for $385,000; 369 were in favor, 73 against. The three incumbent board members had no challengers. Sandi Kruel got 384 votes, Dan Marsili won 369, and Alex Kriegsman got 371.
In Amagansett voters supported the $14.47 million budget 93 to 8. The budget represents a 3.7-percent spending increase and a 2.61-percent increase in the tax levy. Both propositions on the ballot passed — one to purchase a new bus with capital reserve funds (95 to 4), the other, somewhat more disputed, to extend terms of board members from three to five years (60 to 41).
Among the candidates for the school board, all running unopposed, Addie Slater-Davison, the sitting board president, was the top vote-getter with 87. Joseph Lupo, who was running for the first time after being appointed to fill a vacated seat late last year, garnered 79 votes. Dawn Rana-Brophy received 74 votes. The top two vote-getters will serve three-year terms, the third will serve the remaining two years of the term Mr. Lupo had been appointed to. The five-year terms will begin after the next elections.
The Amagansett Library’s $1.67 million budget was also approved, 95 to 4. In Wainscott, 56 people turned out to vote on Tuesday and 53 of them approved the district’s $4.98 million budget, which is down .16 percent from this year’s and carries no increase in the tax levy. The district expects to have 17 students in-house in the 2026-27 school year in prekindergarten through third grade. Older children are sent to either the East Hampton, Sag Harbor, or Bridgehampton School on a tuition basis. David Eagan, an incumbent board member (and board president) first elected in 2004, ran unopposed to keep his seat; he received 50 votes.
Sagaponack had only nine people turn out to vote Tuesday evening. Eight okayed the $2.02 million budget and one voted against it. Spending will decrease by 3.13 percent next year. The district expects to have 18 or 19 students in prekindergarten through third grade at its little red schoolhouse on Sagg Main Street, and pays tuition to send its older students to East Hampton, Bridgehampton, or Sag Harbor. Alexandra Lopez, a first-time candidate, was unanimously elected to the one open seat. She will serve a three-year term, replacing Thomas Schultz, the current board president, who opted not to run for reelection.