Lynbrook's $96.8M school budget approved by voters, Belmont, Lewner voted to school board

Lynbrook voters hit the polls on Tuesday and approved the $96.8 million budget for 2022-23 while voting William Belmont and Andrew Lewner to the school board.

The 2022-23 budget is a 4.28 percent increase from the 2021-22 spending plan. It will see a 1.62 percent increase to the tax levy — the amount that districts can raise revenue through property taxes — which is below the allowable tax cap.

The spending plan was approved, 1,455 votes to 503.

The budget expands the Sounds-Write Program, a literacy program for the district’s youngest learners, increases course options at the high school level, features several additional music enhancements,maintains the district’s support of the athletic and extracurricular programs and increases coaching positions, preserves the district’s commitment to technology, including the One to World program and increases staffing for special education classes.

Belmont, an investigative attorney, was the lone incumbent on the ballot and has spent 15 years on the board. Lewner, an attorney, is a newcomer. Belmont earned 1,110 votes, while Lewner garnered 795.

Challengers Tara Aragona, a cosmetologist, and Cathy Bien, an accountant and an emergency medical technician, were unsuccessful in their bids. Aragona netted 718 votes as a write-in candidate, while Bien earned 691.

Voters also approved Propositions 2 through 4. They enabled administrators to use of technology replacement capital reserve fund for technology and wiring improvements, use reserves to fund repairs, renovations and replacements, including of the Marion Street Elementary School turf field, and use technology reserves to replace technology equipment.