Mamaroneck School Budget Approved With 68% of Vote

by Judy Silberstein

(May 20, 2008) The final tally of votes from the May 20th vote in the Mamaroneck School district showed the budget passing by a substantial margin. The majority of voters at each elementary school voted for the $117 million budget. It came with a 5.89% increase over last year's budget and a 5.41% tax increase - reduced from 5.75% due to a last minute influx of state aid. (See: Mam'k School Budget Drops to $116.9M.)

Two candidates ran unopposed for the Mamaroneck School Board: Trustee Richard Marsico was re-elected with 2256 votes; newcomer Harriet Barish received 2167.

School Budget Tally

This year's results are a far different picture than last year's - when 61% of voters rejected the first budget. (See: Mamaroneck School Budget Defeated by 61% of Vote.) The revised budget was later approved by a whopping 73% of the total, with a larger than usual turnout of 4724 voters.

School Board President Amy Levere and Superintendent Paul Fried applauded the results.

Richard Marsico and Harriet Barish were elected to the board without opposition.

"I'm just very pleased with the overwhelming support of the community," said Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried on Tuesday night. "I certainly appreciate our ongoing imperative to be fiscally responsible and to put forth the educational excellence we have promised to the community."

Was he worried about the outcome? "Well, I think in light of the economy, we were concerned," he said. "And in light of the economic realities, I'm even more appreciative of the results."

8-Year Budget Vote Record

Before last year, Mamaroneck voters had not defeated a budget since 1978. So Tuesday night's outcome was a return to the pattern that had been typical for decades. It also is consistent with strong support for schools seen throughout Westchester County: budgets passed in more than 90% of Westchester school districts. (See: School budget passage rate stays high despite economy.)

Front Page

Print This Page
Email this page