4.4% Levy Increase on Ballot in Bridgehampton

The Bridgehampton School District is asking voters to consider a 4.4 percent increase in the tax levy during a budget vote and School Board election Tuesday.

The 4.4 percent proposed levy increase falls within New York State's mandated tax cap and therefore can pass by a simple majority vote.

The budget totals $11,212,635, which amounts to a 4.83 percent year-to-year increase in spending.

According to a district presentation, the tax rate is estimated to be $0.02 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That amounts to a $46.59 annual tax increase for the average single-family home in Bridgehampton — assessed at $2 million.

One way the School Board kept the size of the budget proposal down was to combine the positions of principal and superintendent. The Sag Harbor Express reported in April http://southampton.patch.com/listings/the-sag-harbor-express that Jack Pryor, the principal for eight years, stepped down under a resignation agreement to cut administrative costs.

There are three seats up for grabs in the Bridgehampton School Board election and only three candidates, but the candidate with the least votes will earn less time on the board than the other two.  

Two terms are expiring, while the third spot is on the ballot to fulfill former School Board member Elizabeth Kotz’s unexpired term.  

Incumbent Lawrence LaPointe is seeking another three-year term. Gabriela Braia, who was appointed to fill Kotz’s seat until an election could be held, now wishes to become an elected member of the board. Jennifer Vinski, who is a member of the district’s audit committee, is the third candidate.  

Incumbent JoAnn Comfort declined to seek re-election.  

The top vote-getters will start their terms July 1. The candidate with the third most votes will be sworn in immediately after the vote and serve a little over a year before facing re-election.

Voting takes place in the school gymnasium between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday.