North Fork School Budget Votes Tuesday: What You Need To Know

NORTH FORK, NY — Voters will head to the poll Tuesday to weigh in on North Fork school budgets and Board of Education races.

Greenport

The proposed $25, 374, 981 budget for 2024 to 2025 represents an increase of $1,665, 106 and a percent change of 7.023 percent, the district said.

"The proposed budget is a result of careful planning and considerable deliberations from our board and administrators, and is intended to continue to meet the needs of our students, faculty/staff, and the wider community. It will preserve and protect the wide-range of educational programs and extracurricular activities offered to our students, while remaining fiscally responsible to the members of the community. This budget is within the district's tax levy cap," said Superintendent of Schools Marlon C. Small.

In the Board of Education race, Amanda Clark, Clifford Harris and Samuel Strickland Jr. are vying for seats, while incumbents Kelly Harris and Robin Walden did not run again this year.

Voting will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the district's auxiliary gymnasium.

Southold

The Southold Union Free School District's proposed $34, 532,000 million budget reflects a 4.11 percent spending increase, with a 2.81 percent tax levy increase, within the district's tax levy cap.

Incumbent school board members Paulette Ofrias and John Crean are running to fill two open seats against new challenger Thomas Kennedy in the race.

The vote takes place between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Southold Jr./Sr. High School gymnasium on Oaklawn Avenue.

Mattituck-Cutchogue

The proposed $40,950,417 for 2024-2025 reflects a $1,159,680 spending increase and a 2.91 percent tax levy increase, under the tax levy cap.

"Always mindful of the needs of our community and students, our Board of Education made preparing the budget for our 2024-2025 school year a priority. Despite the fiscal challenges
our community faces, our changing demographics, stellar special education
programs and a desire and commitment to prepare our students for the future with rigorous and diverse coursework continues to propel us forward. We are conscious of the struggles
of our taxpayers which guide our administration and superintendent to, as always, create a responsible budget that falls under the tax levy cap. Our proposed 2.91 percent increase on our tax levy does just that," the Mattituck-Cutchogue Board of Education said in its budget newsletter.

"As a district, we strive to offer a large variety of extracurricular activities, a proven successful extended learning day for our students, a BOCES collaboration with a newly formed carpentry program and a multi-tiered support system for all grades K-8. Our robust art and music programs, additional foreign language level and our ever-present socialemotional support teams are all aspects that motivate us forward," the BOE siad.

Proposition No. 2 is for $727,000 from the capital reserve for the high school facia and cupola work. "The building was constructed in 1934 and clearly needs work. These funds come from capital reserves set aside that do not affect the tax level," the BOE said.

Four BOE candidates are running for three seats, including incumbents Jeffrey Connolly, Doug Cooper, Karen Letteriello, and Lauren Ocker.

Voting takes place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the high school gym.

New Suffolk Common School

The proposed $1,111,660 school budget for 2024 to 2025 represents a decrease in spending from the 2023 to 2024 budget, which was $1,156,800, as well as a proposed 3.28 percent tax levy increase, within the district's tax cap limit.

Incumbent BOE candidate Deborah Carroll is running unopposed.

Voting takes place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the New Suffolk Common School

Oysterponds

The proposed f $5,635,498 budget for the 2024 to 2025 year represents a $76,675 dollar difference, or 1.38 percent, and a 4.50 percent tax levy increase, within the district's tax cap limit.

The district will also ask voters to weigh in on a proposition that would expend $450,000 from the capital reserve fund for a proposed capital project focused on "health, safety and security," and which would encompass safety and security improvements such as additional security cameras; an updating of interior doors to fire code; safety padding to gym walls; ventilation and boiler improvements; and a paved walking path.

BOE incumbent candidates Erin Johnson and Philip Mastrangelo are running unopposed.

Voting takes place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the gymnasium.