Elmont, Sewanhaka budgets pass with record turnout

Despite some community opposition, both the Elmont and Sewanhaka district budgets passed on Tuesday.

Elmont's budget passed by a reported vote of 1,664 to 998, while Sewanhaka's budget passed 5,994 to 4,117.

According to Sewanhaka Superintendent Warren Meierdiercks, the turnout for the district's budget vote was the largest in their history.

"We're ecstatic that our budget was passed overwhelmingly by our taxpayers," Meierdiercks said. "That was the largest turnout that we've ever had in the history of our district as far our records go back."

He added that the plurality of "yes" votes to "no" votes was also the district's largest ever.

"We are thrilled and obviously we're very happy that the taxpayers approved our spending plan," he said.

Meierdiercks, who attended dozens of community meetings to pitch the district's budget said he was well aware that many taxpayers were concerned about the size of the budget and its tax levy increase.

He said that vocal community members who had made their voices heard would be anything but ignored as the district moved forward into the new fiscal year.

"We're concerned about what our taxpayers have said and the board has listened very carefully," he said. "we'll be taking everything into consideration [for the next budget cycle]."