Schools on the South Fork were supported by voters Tuesday night, with budgets approved by wide margins across the board.
East Hampton residents voted, 186-21, in favor of the school district’s $76.5 million budget for the 2022-23 school year.
Community members also approved a proposition to establish a repair reserve fund that would enable the district to save for future repairs, 189 to 19. The creation comes at no additional cost to taxpayers.
The repair reserve fund is for emergency use only, and money would only be pulled from it to do things like fix a broken boiler or replace damaged gym flooring — restoring the condition of anything that has decayed, deteriorated, weathered or become broken, torn or inoperable. The account will be funded through excess money at the end of each budget year, where the board of education votes to move money into various reserves depending on how much money is left over from what was planned.
Three current School Board members up for reelection, who ran unopposed, also won back their seats, with Justine O’Mara Limonius, current President J.P. Foster and Sandra Vorpahl garnering 169, 170 and 181 votes, respectively. Each will serve a new three-year term.
Montauk voters approved a proposed $20 million budget for the 2022-23 school year, 72-7.
Kelly White, an incumbent on the Montauk School Board, was reelected in an uncontested race, earning 72 votes.
In Amagansett, voters approved a $12.66 million spending plan for 2022-23, 84-11.
The district also was supported in its two propositions on the ballot. Residents voted to allow the district to spend $450,000 in capital reserve funding for building repairs, 85-10. Approval was also granted for Amagansett to purchase a new bus at a cost of $59,882, 86-9.
In an uncontested School Board race, Kristen Peterson, the current board present, was reelected with 75 votes, with newcomer Wayne Gauger joining the board after earning 77 votes.
Despite floating a spending plan for 2022-23 that would pierce the state tax cap for the third time, voters in Wainscott green-lit a $4.13 million budget, 43-3.
Because the district was seeking to pierce the state tax cap, it needed at least 60 percent of voters to support the spending plan; nearly 94 percent voted in favor of the budget.
Voters also supported a proposition that would allow students to attend the Bridgehampton School for fourth grade and up, 46-0. Students currently can choose between East Hampton and Sag Harbor schools.
William Babinski was running unopposed to serve on the School Board. He received 43 votes.
Sagaponack also sought to pierce the state tax cap this year, with its $1.87 million budget, which was supported unanimously, 24-0.
Cathy Hatgistavrou was reelected to the School Board with 24 votes.
In Bridgehampton, the district’s $20.95 million budget for 2022-23 was supported by voters, 103-37.
A proposition to renew leases on two parcels next to the school for up to three years, for use as part of the district’s agricultural education program, at a total combined rent of $3,000 for the first year, was also supported by voters, 121-19.
In another unopposed School Board race, incumbents Carla Lillie and Jennifer Vinksi were elected to the board with 115 and 121 votes, respectively.
