School Budget Votes, Board Elections Are Tuesday

Competitive races for school board seats in Amagansett, Springs and Sag Harbor will be decided on Tuesday, when voters will also decide whether to pass or fail 2012-13 proposed school budgets throughout the state. Uncontested elections will also take place in East Hampton, Montauk and Wainscott.

Amagansett School District

One seat is available on the board of education. The candidates are:

• (incumbent)

Voters will also consider a , a 5.21 percent increase in spending. The Amagansett School District is the only district in the Town of East Hampton that will ask voters on Tuesday for permission to pierce the new state-mandated 2 percent tax levy increase cap for the 2012-13 budget. The new law requires an approval rate of 60 percent, as the $8.43 million school tax levy is an increase of 3.99 percent. The tax rate increase is 3.89 percent, or $28.49 per $100 of assessed value over $27.42 per $100 this current year.

There are also two other propositions on the ballot; a multi-year tuition agreement with the East Hampton School District, at the negotiated reduced rate and the budget of $886,994. Both need to be passed by at least a 60 percent super-majority, due to the cap being pierced.

The election will take place Tuesday in the gym from 2 to 8 p.m.

East Hampton School District

Two seats are available on the school board for full three-year terms and only two people declared candidacy this year. Laura Anker Grossman, the school board president, is not seeking re-election.

• (incumbent, appointed to fill unexpired term of Stephen Talmage last year)

The district has asked voters to approve a , which is a 2.43 percent decrease over the current year's budget. The tax rate is increases, though, by 3.18 percent. The proposal means an estimated tax rate of $47.45 per $100 assessed property value, a $1.46 increase year over year.

Voting will take place in the auditorium from 1 to 8 p.m.

Montauk School District

There is one seat on the ballot for a full five-year term.

• (incumbent)

In Montauk, voters will decide on an $18.5 million budget, an increase of about 2.2 percent over the 2011-12 budget. The tax levy increase, before exemptions, is 2.10 percent. The district said the tax rate increase is 2.87 percent and estimates it at $53.16 per $100 of assessed value.

In addition to the budget and election-related propositions, the district will also ask voters to approve the with , where Montauk students attend high school, for July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016.

Voting will take place in the gym between 2 and 8 p.m.

Sag Harbor School District

Two seats available, each with a three-year term.

• (incumbent)
• (incumbent)

Voters will also . The budget includes a 2.88 spending increase and a 1.94 percent tax levy increase.

The election and budget vote will take place in the gymnasium between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Springs School District

Just one seat is up for grabs in Springs. It is for a full three-year term.

• (incumbent)

The school board will ask voters to approve a , which is $208,000, or .84 percent, less than the current school year's budget. The tax rate increases 3.19 percent, and sets the tax rate at $88.97 per $100 of assessed value, up from $86.22 in the 2011-12 budget. It is the highest in East Hampton. A tax levy increase of 2.97 percent is a figure allowed under the new law due to some exemptions.

Voting will take place in the gym from 1 to 9 p.m.

Wainscott School District

Two seats are on this year's ballot. One is for a full three-year term and the other is for the unexpired term of Iris Osborn, who resigned in March. The candidates are:

• (incumbent)

Voters in the smallest school district in the Town of East Hampton will consider a , a $75,410 or 2.11 percent decrease from the 2011-12 budget. The tax rate increases about 2.22 percent to $18.20 per $100 of assessed value. The tax rate remains the lowest of East Hampton's sending districts.

There are two additional propositions; to establish a Capital Reserve Fund for building improvements, renovations, technology upgrades and facilities for educational programs, and to ratify the tuition contract with the East Hampton School District for the term of July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016.

Voting will take place at the , during extended hours this year, from 2 to 8 p.m.