West Hempstead School, Library Budgets Pass

West Hempstead residents supported the school district’s budget of $54 million Tuesday night.

The 2011-12 budget, which carries a 2.99 percent tax levy increase, received 1,071 yes votes and 893 no votes.

This represents a 2.85 percent (or $1.5 million) increase over last year's.

School Board incumbents Pamela Lotito and Walter Ejnes ran unopposed and were re-elected to the school board. Lotito received 1,140 votes, while Ejnes received 1,054 votes.

The $3 million West Hempstead Library budget also passed - 989 voted yes and 813 voted no. It carries with it a 1.4 percent tax levy.

Library board member Owen Rumelt retained his seat, receiving 980 votes to Thomas Mascia's 717.

Rumelt said he was pleased and grateful to the voters for another five-year
term.

"I'm just looking forward to finishing the work we've started," he said.

Turnout, which started with a trickle during early morning downpours, began to
pick up in the afternoon. The polls were swarming with voters in the evening as residents came home from work and remained busy until the final ballots were cast at 9 p.m.

Results were reported by Elections Official and Board Member James Mariano.

Check back tomorrow for detailed coverage of the budget vote.