The proposed $70.88 million school budget for the 2020-21 school year was approved by BH-BL residents with 3,672 yes votes and 1,425 no votes, and a passing margin of 72 percent.
The district received a record number of ballots, 5,109, making this the highest number of votes received in known school budget history, by passing the June 2003 school budget, 3,131 votes, as the former highest voter turnout.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order that all school districts in the state must hold their budget votes and board elections via mail-in ballots only. Therefore, on June 1, more than 14,000 absentee ballots were mailed to BH-BL qualified voters.
Residents also re-elected board members John Blowers (3,875 votes) and Don Marshall (3,973), and newcomer Lakshmi Nagarajan (3,887) to the board of education.
“With over 5000 votes cast, our community has sent a very strong message of support for BH-BL. We appreciate that and we will work hard in the 2020-21 school year to continue to earn that trust,” says Superintendent Dr. Patrick McGrath.