Nearly.

While residents gave the thumbs up to budgets in Miller Place, Mount Sinai, Rocky Point, and Longwood, Shoreham-Wading River's budget failed.

There were 1,390 votes cast against the $55.6 million operating budget that represented a 9.7 percent spending increase and 1,068 for it.

Board of Education newcomers running unopposed clearly ruled the night, and Robert Alcorn, Jack Costas and William McGrath were all ushered onto the board they said they're hoping to reform. Mr. McGrath received the most number of votes with 1,644; Mr. Costas won 1,546 votes, and Robert Alcorn received 1,532.

Each of the candidates has said they hope to improve communications between the public and the board.

Locals who never declared their candidacy received some shout-outs Tuesday night, and there were about a dozen write-ins who received no more than about six votes each.

Shoreham-Wading River residents also voted down the technology proposition, with 1,372 residents voting against the measure that would have given the board permission to spend $600,000 to replace network equipment district officials said was obsolete. Additionally, it would have provided for wireless access points in the high school and middle school libraries, new servers and operating systems, new SmartBoards, and new computers.

There were 1,123 votes cast in favor of the technology proposition.

Longwood Superintendent Allan Gerstenlauer said fewer Longwood residents came to the polls than usual Tuesday, but the district's $198.3 million budget was still approved. There were 1,900 votes for the budget that will raise the tax levy an estimated 3.85 percent, and 1,770 votes against it.

Up $7.4 million over last year's spending plan, the budget increase is less than has been proposed in the past three years. The budget eliminates 55 staff and teacher positions, including 14 special education teaching assistant and nine elementary general education positions.

Board of Education incumbent Phil Reany, a former Longwood teacher, and newcomer Robert Dickerson were voted onto the board. Both were running unopposed. Mr. Reany received 2,554 votes, and Mr. Dickerson won 2,199.

In Miller Place, 1,176 residents voted to approve the $57.7 million operating budget that will raise taxes by about 5.6 percent, while 808 locals voted no. The district's $3.7 million EXCEL bond proposition passed by a vote of 1,311 to 615. Residents will not need to shell out much money for the bond, and it will end up costing them around $41,700. The district will receive about $2.7 million in normal building aid and about $1 million in EXCEL — Expanding Our Children's Education and Learning — aid. EXCEL aid is state money school districts may use only if voters approve it.

Residents seem to have approved of Board of Education President Ann O'Brien's tenure, as they voted her back on with 1,008 votes. Newcomer Angela Guido received even more than Ms. O'Brien, with 1,112 votes being cast in favor of the lifelong Miller Place resident who hopes to fight for additional state aid and more space in the schools. Fred Paparelli lost his bid for re-election for the second time in a row. He received 975 votes.

Miller Place residents overwhelmingly approved the proposition to contract with Comsewogue Public Library for another year by a vote of 1,484 to 456.

Unlike last year, Mount Sinai breathed a sigh of relief when residents green lighted the district's $52.8 million budget, which should raise the tax rate by about 2.94 percent. Locals cast 741 ballots for and 651 against the budget that was about $400,000 less than what school officials originally proposed in January.

Residents also approved the second proposition on the ballot by a vote of 807 to 553, which allows the Board of Education to appropriate $390,000 for capital projects. This will have no impact on property taxes and will be paid for with surplus funds stemming from more than $300,000 saved due to a new energy plan. The monies will pay for such items as new linoleum in the elementary school, a guidance office expansion, carpeting, high school band lockers, and retractable walls in the classrooms.

Incumbents ruled the roost Tuesday night, with each of the three incumbents running winning another term. Current vice-president Jeffrey Segal received the most votes with 851 people throwing their support behind him at the polls. John Yavorka received 827 votes, and board president John Wittpenn received 744. Steven Koepper, a newcomer who was gunning for a full-day kindergarten program won 704 votes.

Residents approved the third proposition 953 votes to 414 votes to spend about $1.5 million to allow residents to use either the Port Jefferson Public Library or the Comsewogue Library.

Though residents approved Rocky Point's $65.5 million budget by a vote of 941 to 727, there was some upheaval when it came to the Board of Education vote. Geraldine Thalen, the current board president who has been on the board for nine years, lost her bid for another term. She received the second lowest number of votes, with 550 residents throwing their weight behind the incumbent who fought to bring the middle school to Rocky Point. Former Rocky Point Civic Association president Diane Burke got a big thumbs up from residents, with more locals voting for her than any other candidate. Ms. Burke won 926 votes, and newcomer Michael Nofi won 815 votes. Neither have served on the board before. Challenger Irene Mazzeo lost alongside Ms. Thalen with 467 votes.

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