Great Neck School, Library Budgets Pass

Great Neck voters easily approved the school district’s 2013-14 school budget and elected incumbent Monique Bloom to the Board of Education Tuesday.

The school budget passed by a vote of 1,183-321.

The approved budget of $209 million is a $10 million increase over last year. The increase over this year's budget is 4.85 percent. The increase in the amount to be raised by real property tax is 3.14 percent.

Voters approved the reduction of 17 teacher positions and 21 teaching assistant, monitors and aides jobs. Those reductions have been projected to save the district about $2.5 million in 2013-14, according to the school board.

Running unopposed, Bloom received 1,094 yes votes. Appointed in June 2012 after school board member Fran Langsner moved outside the school district, Bloom, of Kings Point, was elected for the first time. 

Diana O'Connell, the district clerk in Great Neck for 15 years, said voter turnout in 2013 was similar to last year. With one school board candidate running uncontested and no significant propositions on the ballot other than budget items, voter interest was about average.

"If you have something that is unusual for the year, then you may have a larger turnout," said O'Connell.

In a second proposition, residents approved the Great Neck Library's $8.53 million budget, 1,038-403. 

Polls were are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., at Great Neck South High School and at the E.M. Baker Elementary School.