SCHOOL VOTE: Riverhead, SWR budgets pass amid low voter turnout

Voters approved school budget proposals in both local districts Tuesday.

In Riverhead, 61 percent of the 2,790 people who cast a ballot voted in favor of the proposed 2012-13 school budget.

Sue Koukounas edged out Tom Carson for the top number of votes for school board, though it was an uncontested race for two open seats.

The Shoreham-Wading River budget was approved by a vote of 1,316 to 658. That was good for a 67 percent approval in a district that saw budget proposals defeated twice in the past five years.

In that district’s contested race for two school board seats, Robert Rose and Michael Fucito bested Anthony DeLouise.

Mr. Rose was the top vote-getter.

A machine malfunction in Shoreham-Wading River prevented the Proposition 2 results from being immediately available. Proposition 2, if approved, would allow the district to use excess funds from a 2009 Health and Safety Proposition to make repairs and improvements to district buildings.

Voter turnout in both districts was low when compared with figures over the past decade.

The Riverhead News-Review reported live from both school districts. Click play on the blog below to scroll through our live coverage Tuesday night.

RIVERHEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Budget — PASSED

1,703 — YES

1,061 — NO

School board — two open seats

Susan Koukounas: 1,842

Tom Carson: 1,678

SHOREHAM-WADING RIVER

Budget — PASSED

YES — 1,316

NO — 658

School board race results:

Robert Rose: 1,194

Michael Fucito: 1,030

Anthony Delouise: 807

Prop 2: no decision due to possible machine malfunction

Prop 3 — APPROVED

YES: 1,329

NO: 559

Proposition 3 gives the board the authority to appoint a Shoreham-Wading River High School senior as a non-voting member of the school board.

 Click the play button below.