Date set for budget recount

3 votes separate yays from nays

EAST HAMPTON — The mandatory recount of the general government budget vote will take place Friday evening at the middle school.

The budget was narrowly defeated in a vote of 910-907 during the daylong budget referendum Tuesday.

The recount will take place at 6 p.m. Friday in the gymnasium, Town Clerk Sandra Wieleba said. By state law, an automatic recount is triggered when there is a difference of one-half of 1 percent in the outcome of a vote, according to Assistant Town Clerk Bernice C. Bartlett.

Residents voted on two budgets Tuesday, the $30.5 million education budget and the $15.14 million town, or general government, spending package.

The education budget, which had been the focus of most of the attention — and more than a little controversy — was approved by a vote of 972-847.

Residents’ discord arose after the Republican majority on the Board of Finance changed spending for education from the Board of Education’s recommended 3.73 percent increase down to a 1.5 percent increase.

That sparked some residents to take to social media, calling for rejection of the general government budget as a form of retribution for the sharp reduction in the education proposal. In the wake of that rejection, several residents offered their thoughts on why the budget was rejected and what should happen next.

In an email Wednesday, Tania K. Sones, a former school board member, said “It’s unfortunate that those who supported education

felt the need to vote no on the town budget so their voices could be heard.

“This sends a message that the Board of Finance/ Town Council are not working collaboratively with the Board of Education to come up with a budget voters can stand behind. This is a poor way of running government,” she added.

Cristin Flannery sent an email in which she said, “As a parent and a taxpayer in town, I would like to say that I am very relieved that the education (budget) has passed. Many parents and citizens worked hard to inform others of what is happening and the ramifications of cuts.”

However, Flannery said, she was “thoroughly disappointed in the lack of communication from the town council and board of finance regarding how they

would like to disperse the (state) Education Cost Share funds.

“Throughout the entire budget season, they cited the uncertainty from the state as the main reason why they cut $670,000 from the board of education budget. Now, we know that we are receiving $716,000 from the state. That, at least, should, without question, go back to education to try to maintain as many as eight positions cut as possible.“

She called officials’ lack of enthusiasm to keep education funded properly is “unconscionable.”

Another education advocate, Charise Corsino, also focused on the ECS funds in an email she sent to The Press.

“While I am thrilled to see the education budget pass — I am still terribly disappointed that the final decision was to reduce the education budget by such a significant amount that risks losing a potential eight teaching positions,” Corsino said. “I am not sure that residents are fully aware ... that a budget was created, adjusted and voted on without this critical piece of information.

“It seems reasonable to hope that residents be aware of this new information and also ask that the BOF use some of these funds as they were intended,” Corsino continued.

The General Assembly approved the state budget for 2018-19 May 10. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the budget agreement Tuesday.