Voters give budgets stamp of approval in Bellmore-Merrick

Before Tuesday’s election, Bellmore-Merrick schools officials said they worried about whether their 2012-13 budgets would pass, knowing that they would have to keep spending the same as this school year if the budgets were to fail twice in public votes, potentially forcing them to cut millions of dollars in spending. Apparently they had nothing to fear.

The North Bellmore School District’s budget passed with 63 percent of the vote. Residents cast 1,442 “yes” votes and 831 “no” votes.

Also in North Bellmore, six candidates were running for two seats on the Board of Education. Board President Grace Cramsie was re-elected, and Nina Lanci, who lost her seat on the board in last year’s election, ran again this year and prevailed, ousting sitting board member Joseph Perrone.

The Bellmore School District budget passed with nearly 67 percent of the vote, or 709 “yes” ballots and 350 “no” ballots.

Incumbents Marion Blane and Brian Desmond were re-elected to the Bellmore Board of Education in an uncontested race.

The Merrick Elementary School District’s spending plan passed with nearly 69 percent of the vote. Residents cast 1,144 “yes” ballots and 517 “no” ballots in the budget vote.

In a five-way race for three seats on the Merrick Board of Education, incumbents Dr. Nancy Kaplan and Susan Schwartz retained their seats, and Dr. Pamela Banks won election to the board.

In the North Merrick Elementary District, the budget passed with 68 percent of the vote, or 787 “yes” ballots and 365 “no” ballots. Incumbent Neil Brown and newcomer Steven Enella were elected to the board in an uncontested race.

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District spending plan passed with 66 percent of the vote, or 3,974 “yes” ballots and 2,030 “no” ballots.