By Andrew Coen and Paul Wein
As of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the $84.1 million budget had garnered 2,264 yes votes and 1,833 no's.
Incumbents Jill Stern, Steve Witt and Marcy Goldberg all won new terms as Board of Education trustees, handily defeating the lone challenger in the at-large race, Dr. Cliff Bryer. Stern earned 2,831 votes; Goldberg, 2,816; and Witt, 2,586. Bryer earned a total of 1,328 votes.
The approved fiscal plan is 5.98 percent larger than the current budget of $79.4 million. Its passage means that the average District 14 homeowner will see an increase of roughly 7 percent in taxes, according to school officials.
"I am very happy that we won," said Jill Stern of the incumbents' victory. "I'm especially happy that the budget passed by such a large number."
With the spending plan approved, the district avoids having to revise it for a re-vote, which occurred last year for the first time since 1995.
Stern, Witt and Goldberg, who in 2003 defeated incumbent trustees Robert Jay, Elyse Coleman and Stephanie Gallo, ran as a trio in the interest of maintaining stability on the board. They have said that either rebuilding or renovating Woodmere Middle School is their No. 1 priority in their next term.
"We're looking forward to getting down to business as soon as possible," Stern said.
