Springs Voters Approve School Budget

It was close, but voters in Springs passed a $24.8 million budget for the 2011-12 school year on Tuesday. 

In a 562-to-436 vote, residents approved the budget, and will assume a 5.8 tax rate increase in the next academic year.

Meanwhile, PTA president Liz Mendelman and Southampton Intermediate School Principal Tim Frazier will join the board of education, as school board president Chris Kelley and Thomas Talmage step down in June.

Mendelman received the most votes with 503. Frazier got 442. Arthur Goldman, a high school teacher, got 416, and Phyllis Mallah, a retired Yonkers teacher, got 286.

Goldman said, "I feel a certain sort of relief. The most improtant thing is the budget passed."

Superintendent Michael Hartner certainly shared Goldman's opinion that the budget passed. "I'm delighted, it was a good margin."

There were several write-in candidates, including Reg Cornelia, David Buda, and Lynne Scanlon.

Voters also approved two propositions. In a 793 to 186 vote, they approved amending the  with East Hampton School District, which is expected to save taxpayers money. By a 704-to-246 vote, voters approvedtransfering money from the the 2010-11 fund balance to the repair reserve, which does not increase taxes.

The school budget will increase by $1.5 million to accommodate contractual increases, roof repairs, and a loss in grants and state aid. The spending increase is 6.4 percent, while the tax levy increase is 4.7 percent.

The led a movement in Springs to vote down the budget.

Frazier said he was ecstatic the budget passed. "I look forward to being involved in the process as a board member."

For results from the East Hampton, Amagansett, Montauk, and Wainscott district votes,