TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
Budgets Pass, With Some New Board Faces

Northport-East Northport
Once an hour of tedious counting and legalities finally came to an end at the William J. Brosnan School, the single biggest surprise of Tuesday night wasn’t what the voters approved. It’s who they didn’t.

The Northport-East Northport School District’s budget and capital expenses were approved, but Board of Education Vice President Donna McNaughton lost her seat after one three-year term.

“I did my best,” she said.

McNaughton joined President Stephen Waldenburg, newcomer James Maloney and newcomer David Badanes in seeking three three-year terms. Incumbent Kristen Gavin’s forthcoming departure from the district opened the third position.

Waldenburg finished in front with 2,965 votes.

“People have said I try to be fair in the way I hold meetings. I do try,” he said. “I just want to be fair and let all voices be heard.”

Badanes finished second with 2,754 votes. Acknowledging he doesn’t have all the answers, the newcomer pledged to ask questions.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of that board,” he said.

Fellow newcomer Maloney bested McNaughton’s 2,484 ballots with 2,638 of his own.

“It’s going to be an interesting road ahead,” Maloney said, admitting he was worried after not receiving editorial support from other publications.
At the same time, taxpayers supported the proposed $153,941,712 budget by a score of 2,826-1,461. The budget will increase the tax levy by 1.68 percent, increasing spending by 1.83 percent over the current $151,178,758 budget.
The now-approved budget also entails $142,786 in savings by not replacing three employees who have left since December, $75,000 in cuts from expenses at McDermott’s discretion and additional $225,000 of reserves used, up to $2.425 million, from the original proposed budget. It also protected new costs, like 76 security cameras, a new school bus and the district’s first furniture-replacement plan.

Voters also overwhelmingly support proposition No. 2, which permitted spending $845,000 from capital reserve accounts, by a 3,433-806 decision. That funding will allow for installation of a duel-fuel boiler at Bellerose Avenue Elementary School, and univents at both East Northport and Northport middle schools.

Other capital projects are built into the budget. Plans called for $1.6 million to be used for improving bathrooms at Ocean Avenue Elementary School, renovating the high school auditorium and installing a generator at the William J. Brosnan School. Some of that money will be covered by state grants.
-KOEHLER

Commack School District
The Commack School District adopted its $171,344,680 2012-2013 budget with 63.3 percent of voters in favor. The final tally was 2,977 yes, 1,723 no.
In a considerably tighter race, Trustee Deborah Guber was re-elected to the one open seat on the Commack school board. She won with 54.9 percent of the vote over challenger Daniel Fusco. Guber earned 2,453 votes to Fusco’s 2,012.
The budget trims 37 teaching positions as well as administrative, secretarial, custodial and teaching assistant staff. Administrators said during the process that those positions could be restored should mid-contract givebacks, especially from the teacher’s union, be granted. The budget results in a 2.6-percent tax levy increase.

The adopted budget also cuts funding to 14 co-curricular high school clubs, which were selected based on membership levels; lower intramural club hours and reduce the number of assistant sports coaches. Year-to-year spending increases by 3.17 percent.
-SCHRAFEL

Elwood School District
Down the road, Elwood School District also passed its 2012-2013 budget easily. An overwhelming 72.1-percent of voters approved the budget, with 1,267 yes votes and 490 no votes.

The $54,170,585 plan raises the district’s tax levy by 2.21 pecent and restructures the middle and high school programs while maintaining a full music program and preserving extracurricular activities and a full athletic program. Overall spending increases from budget-to-budget by less than 1 percent.

School board President Joe Fusaro and Vice President Dan Ciccone were each elected to a fourth third-year term. Running unopposed, the pair received 1,109 and 1,074 votes, respectively.
-SCHRAFEL