Voting Guide for Amagansett, Wainscott Residents

In Wainscott and Amagansett, two of the smallest school districts in the Town of East Hampton, the polls open at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Amagansett

Two incumbents are running for re-election to the Amagansett School Board. John Hossenlopp and Victoria Smudzinski are running unopposed.

As for the budget, the board proposed $10.2 million budget for the upcoming school year, which equates to a 5.68 percent increase.

The proposal reflects a 3.33 percent tax levy increase to a total of about $8.7 million. According to the school district, the tax levy increase proposed is the second lowest in the past 12 years.

The increase, however, is within the allowable tax levy cap range of 3.45 percent. "Therefore, approval of the tax levy requires a simple majority of those voting," Superintendent Eleanor Tritt wrote in a message to parents.

Under the proposed budget, property owners with an assessed value of $6,000 will experience an increase in school taxes of approximately $50.69 per year, or $4.22 per month.

Voters are also being asked to approve a proposition for new security systems, to increase safety and security at the school. The cost will not exceed $225,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund.

The district wants to purchase and install an upgraded public address and intercom system, an entry monitoring and access control system with audio/video capability, a key-less card reader access control system, video cameras, “panic” buttons, visitor management system, upgraded internal door locks, associated electrical and cabling modifications and telephone system integration.

In 2007, voters approved the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund for purposes that included new security systems. The balance is currently $332,852, according to the district newsletter.

Wainscott

Voters in Wainscott have been presented with a $3.5 million budget for the 2013-14 school year. There is only one candidate for the school board; William A. Babinski Jr. The term is for three years on the three-member board.

Nancy McCaffrey, the longtime school board president, is not seeking re-election.

The proposal is a decrease of 1.3 percent over the 2012-13 budget.The state mandated 2 percent cap on tax levy increases is no problem in Wainscott, where the proposed tax levy is about $2.7 million, a decrease of 1.55 percent.

The polls are open in both Wainscott and Amagansett — at the respective schools — until 8 p.m.