Riverhead school district voters passed next year's proposed school budget on Tuesday night but decided to hit the brakes on a plan to move the school's decaying bus barn to Riverside.
Next year's $117.9 million budget – which stays under the cap permitted by state regulations with a 3.82 percent tax levy jump – passed by a margin of 1,520 to 1,252.
A three-way race for school board, which included newcomer Chris Dorr challenging Amelia Lantz and Jeff Falisi for one of their open seats, finished with Dorr receiving 1,423 votes, Lantz earning 1,270 votes and Falisi with 1,082 votes.
In recent weeks, however, the most contentious issue on the ballot has not revolved around increased taxes nor school board members, but rather where buses will run from.
A proposition to buy land in Riverside to potentially site a future bus barn failed, 1,413 to 1,153.
Lastly a measure to create a capital reserve fund to fund that barn passed, 1,382 to 1,266.
"I appreciate the public's support for the budget and putting the capital reserve find together," Superintendent Nancy Carney said.
As far as the bus barn site goes, she said, much like a capital improvements bond that failed years back, and later passed in 2011 at a lesser level ($72 million to $122 million), the district will work toward finding what works for voters.
Members of the district living on the Southampton Town side of the Peconic River have spoken out against a plan that could open the door to a bus garage on Route 24 – a plan school district officials have said would open up space for athletic fields on the school's campus while replacing a bus barn that has been in need of replacement for years.
However members of the community where it is being moved to have criticized the plan and vowed to vote it down for the increased traffic it will bring to an already burdened area, as well as the lack of economic development locals have been hoping to draw.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
