Southampton School Budget Sails Through

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton residents headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the 2023 to 2024 school budget vote and school board candidate election — and passed the budget with a vote of 455 to 177.

The district's proposed $76,899,000 budget reflects a spending increase of 1.34 percent and a 2.55 percent tax levy increase.

Voters also weighed in on two propositions that relate to the district’s planned move in 2025 to a new administration building at 300-310 Hampton Road. Voters approved the purchase of the building in 2022. Both Propositions No. 6 and No. 7 do not include additional costs to taxpayers.

Proposition No. 6 asked voters to authorize the expenditure of up to $3.5 million from the district’s property acquisition and facility construction capital reserve fund for renovations associated with the 12,000-square-foot Hampton Road property. That measure passed 419 to 213.

Renovations will include those related to ADA compliance and the creation of functional office spaces.

Proposition No. 7 requested voters approve an updated lease agreement with J. Farrell, c/o Farrell Building Company Inc., for the district’s current administrative offices at 425 County Road 39A. The updated lease is needed to secure the current space while the new administrative office is renovated. The lease includes a term of Feb. 15, 2024, through June 30, 2025, for $251,178.00 annually and a six-month rate for 2025 in the amount of $129,356.70. That measure also passed 400 to 232.

Incumbent BOE candidates Donald J. King and SunHe Sherwood-Dudley were challenged by Monique Proctor; the winners were Proctor with 398 votes and Sherwood-Dudley with 378. King received 309 votes.