SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Southampton residents headed to the polls Tuesday to vote in the 2023 to 2024 school budget ballot and school board candidate elections — and they passed the budget by a vote of 455-177.
The district's proposed $76,899,000 budget reflects a 1.34 percent spending increase and a 2.55 percent tax levy increase.
Voters also weighed in on two proposals related to the district's planned move in 2025 to a new administration building at 300-310 Hampton Road. Voters approved purchasing the building in 2022. Both propositions No. 6 and No. 7 involve no additional cost to taxpayers.
Proposition No. 6 asked voters to approve spending up to $3.5 million from the district's property acquisition and facility construction reserve fund for renovations related to the 12,000-square-foot Hampton Road property. This measure passed from 419 to 213.
Renovations will include those related to ADA compliance and creating functional office space.
Proposition No. 7 asked voters to approve an updated lease agreement with J. Farrell, c/o Farrell Building Company Inc., for the district's current administrative offices at 425 County Road 39A. The updated lease is necessary to secure the current space during the renovation of the new administrative office. The lease includes a term from February 15, 2024 to June 30, 2025, for $251,178.00 per annum and a semiannual interest for 2025 in the amount of $129,356.70. That measure also passed 400 to 232.
BOE incumbents Donald J. King and SunHe Sherwood-Dudley were challenged by Monique Proctor. The winners were Proctor with 398 votes and Sherwood-Dudley with 378. King received 309 votes.
