Watch: Ballot Counting For Westhampton Beach School Budget Vote

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Here's a chance to watch the ballot counting for the Westhampton Beach Union Free School District's budget vote live.

The district said it would host virtual ballot count viewing by Zoom on Tuesday.

After Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered an extension in the filing date, Tuesday marked the last day residents could cast an absentee ballot in the 2020-2021 Westhampton Beach Union Free School District's budget vote.

According to the district, the proposed budget of $58,957,227 represents a budget-to-budget increase of 1.62 percent and carries a tax levy increase of 1.67 percent, which is below New York State's tax levy limit.

"These past few months have been very challenging,"said Superintendent of Schools Michael Radday. "Developing a budget in the midst of the economic uncertainty caused by a global pandemic was not easy. However, this budget maintains the district's outstanding educational, extracurricular, and support programs while being mindful of the fiscal impact to the community."

The administration and Board of Education worked collaboratively to establish a "meticulous financial plan" that ensures the district's educational goals are met with a minimal increase in spending, the district said. The commitment to financial discipline is "longstanding", as budget increases over the past five years have averaged 1.2 percent, district officials said.

Incumbents Joyce Donneson and Suzanne Mensch are running unopposed for two open Board of Education seats.