NEN budget passes by almost 700 votes, Cleary and Taylor elected to BOE
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The 2024-2025 Northport-East Northport school district budget passed Tuesday evening, with 2,202 residents voting in favor and 1,536 voting against the proposition. The approved budget comes in at $187,932, 561, representing a 2.33% tax levy increase.
A rise in turnout brought nearly 600 more people to the polls than last year.
Edging out the competition in the race for trustee were incumbent Carol Taylor and Northport Village resident Michael Cleary. Taylor (1,984 votes) and Cleary (1,860) defeated fellow candidates Paul Darrigo (1,601) and Victoria Bento (1,328).
Cleary, who was inspired to run for the board of education after a recent trip to Kenya with Students for 60,000, during which he was a parent chaperone, told the Journal he’s excited to start this new chapter of service in his life and is looking forward to the onboarding process.
“I’d like to commend the other candidates on running respectful campaigns,” Cleary said. “I’m feeling very grateful for all the support I’ve received from friends, family and the community.”
The only incumbent to run, Taylor will start her second term in July. She ran for re-election, she said, to help NEN’s new superintendent, Dave Moyer, acclimate to the district, help navigate the future of the community’s school buildings, and preserve the community college elective model of Northport High School.
Also on the ballot was a second proposition allowing the district to use up to $1 million from the 2021 Capital Reserve Fund (as established on May 18, 2021) for roof replacements or HVAC reconstruction/renovations in any of the district buildings. It was approved 2,813 to 877.
Updated: The above article was updated to specify that the 2.33% as originally written represents a tax levy increase.