SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Southampton residents headed to the polls Tuesday to vote in the 2022-2023 school budget vote and school board candidate elections.
The budget was passed with 585 votes in favor and 193 against.
The district's proposed $74,990,000 budget reflects a 1.34 percent spending increase and a 2.31 percent tax levy increase, below the tax levy cap.
Voters also weighed a number of proposals, including spending $4,900,000 from the existing capital reserve to acquire property located at 300 and 310 Hampton Road for an administrative office. That measure passed, 563 to 210.
Voters will also decide on a proposal that would create a 10-year, $2.5 million capital reserve for technology equipment and infrastructure upgrades, funded by surplus budget and appropriations. The measure went from 610 to 161.
Another proposal would authorize the Board of Education to undertake capital improvements, including the renovation or replacement of three HVAC units at Southampton High School. renovation and/or installation of an HVAC system in the bay area of the Southampton garage; renovation or replacement of the planetarium at Southampton High School to install new seating, carpeting and wall covering. Carrying out roof repairs at Southampton Primary School. installation of outdoor gym equipment and an outdoor basketball court, with related surface materials and fencing; and boiler repairs at Southampton Intermediate School, all at a cost of $1,480,000, from the 2017 10-year reserve fund. None of the proposals affect the tax levy, he said the region.
Voters approved that proposal, too, by a wide margin of 651 to 121.
Two candidates, Germain L. Smith and Robert Scott Gaeckle, ran for an open seat to replace Michael G. Medio, whose term expires June 30. Smith emerged the winner with 517 votes. Gaeckle collected 215.