Bellmore-Merrick School Budget Passes By Substantial Amount

MERRICK, NY — Merrick residents went to the polls on Tuesday to decide the 2023-2024 school budget.

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District budget passed by a vote of 2,522 to 1,232, the district announced.

There is a 2.37% tax levy increase. The approved budget is $188,863,521, an overall hike of 6.64% from the previous year.

Proposition #2: Capital Improvement Projects totaling $1,640,000, passed 2,649 to 1,063.

The Merrick Union Free School District $58,922,891 budget passed by a vote of 711 to 290, the district said.

It's an increase of 5.94% from the previous year. It carries a tax levy increase of 1.52%, which the district said is within the allowable tax levy cap.

Proposition #2: Allowing the district the use $1.3 million in capital reserve funds to replace playgrounds at Birch and Chatterton elementary school, passed 720-277.

Jill Levine and Nicole Venditti were re-elected to the Board of Education.

At the North Merrick Union Free School District budget passed, 373-232, the district said.

Proposition #2: The Central High School Budget passed, 382-224.

Proposition #3 - Central High School Capital Improvement Projects, approved by a vote of 409 to 176.

Incumbents Ed Corona and Tracey Miller, ran uncontested for the Board of Education.