Riverhead School Budget Passes, After Failing Twice Last Year

RIVERHEAD, NY — The results are in, and although the Riverhead Central School District's budget was voted down twice last year, this year, there was a happy ending: The budget passed by an overwhelming majority of 2,237 to 886.

Six candidates, including incumbents Brian Connelly and Susan Koukounas, as well as Colin Palmer, Monique Parsons, Shannon Reitz and Yolanda Thompson, ran for two open BOE seats. The winners were Connolly, with 1,392 votes, and Palmer, with 1,309.

According to the district, the proposed $159,407,613 budget represents a budget-to-budget increase of 10.08 percent and a tax levy increase of 0 percent. A boost of 42.21 percent, or nearly $14 million, in state aid made it possible to prevent a tax levy increase despite rising budget costs, the district said.

"The increase in state aid allows us to provide our students with the programs and services they so richly deserve," BOE President Laurie Downs said.

The spending plan, the district said, calls for increases to academic, social, and emotional support programs — and restores cuts made to the district under the contingency budget last year.