By: Joseph Kellard
Voters pass budget and bond proposals
By JOSEPH KELLARD
Newcomer Darlene Tangney racked up the most votes in the at-large Board of Education election on Tuesday for two seats, as residents gave a thumbs up to the school district's budget and bond proposals.
Tangney received the most votes, 1,936, with former Trustee Gina Guma garnering 1,812. Incumbent Roy Lester, who sough a fourth three-year term, collected 1,421. Trustee Frank Alvarado will retire from the board in June.
By a vote of 1,789 to 963, the community approved the district's $114.6 million 2009-10 budget. It is $2 million larger than the current spending plan. The new budget increases spending 1.7 percent, and increases the tax levy by 2.5 percent.
Residents also passed a referendum for a $98.9 million bond that will fund the first part of the district's three-phase plan to upgrade its aging facilities and programs. There were 1,579 "yes" votes. and 1,136 voted "no" on the bond.
Voters also supported the Public Library's $3.1 million budget, by a margin of 1,804 to 872. The 2009-10 library budget is 1.2 percent larger than the current spending plan.
Library Trustee Eugene Colon ran uncontested for a second term on the library board.
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (561) 569-4000 ext. 213.
