Riverhead School Budget Vote Tuesday: What You Need To Know

RIVERHEAD, NY — Riverhead voters will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the 2021 to 2022 school budget and school board candidate vote. All eyes will be on the district, where the Riverhead Central School District's budget was voted down twice last year.

Here's a rundown of what you need to know Tuesday before you cast your ballot.

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.

Six candidates, including incumbents Brian Connelly and Susan Koukounas, as well as Colin Palmer, Monique Parsons, Shannon Reitz and Yolanda Thompson, are running for two open BOE seats.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday. For information on where to vote, click here.