By: MIKE CAPUTO
East Meadow residents passed the proposed 2009-10 school budget on Tuesday, with 2,341 voting in favor and 1,106 opposed.
The voter turnout for the budget was up about 5 percent from last year. About 68 percent voted in favor of the 2009-10 proposed budget, an increase from the 60 percent who voted in support of the current budget last May.
The approved East Meadow school district budget calls for a 2.2 percent rise in spending, the lowest increase in decades, and an anticipated raise in the tax levy of about 3.5 percent, the lowest in years.
Incumbent trustees Brian O'Flaherty and Walter Skinner were re-elected to three-year terms on East Meadow school board, while Marcee Rubinstein was elected to a term that expires in June 2010. Rubinstein's term officially began following the election on Tuesday night. O'Flaherty, who was elected to his third term, and Skinner, who won a second term, will be officially sworn in at the reorganization meeting in July.
O'Flaherty received 2,168 votes, and his challenger, David Kullman, garnered 1,296. Skinner attained 2,152 votes, while his opponent, Anthony LaRosa, received 1,540 votes.
In the third race, Rubinstein tallied the most votes, with 2,189 against her two opponents, Thomas Kurian and Joseph Danenza. Kurian received 474, while Danenza attained 927.
The proposed budget for the East Meadow public library was also approved by the voters on Tuesday night. The budget passed with 2,255 in favor and 1,150 against. Janet Barsky was re-elected to the library's Board of Trustees in an uncontested race, and received 1,899 votes.
Results
School budget
Pass: 2,341 (68%)
Fail: 1,106 (32%)
Library budget
Pass: 2,255 (67%)
Fail: 1,150 (33%)
Board of Education
- Seat No. 1
Brian O'Flaherty: 2,168 (62%)
David Kullman: 1,296 (38%)
- Seat No. 2
Walter Skinner: 2,152 (58%)
Anthony LaRosa: 1,540 (42%)
- Seat No. 3
Marcee Rubinstein 2,189 (61%)
Joseph Danenza: 927 (26%)
Thomas Kurian 474 (13%)
Library Board of Trustees
Janet Barsky: 1,899
