Schools

No Supermajority for Briarcliff Budget; Satran, Wasserman Elected

Note: This article was originally published at 9:45 p.m Tuesday. Additional information has been added.

Briarcliff Manor voters went to the polls at Todd Elementary School today to weigh in on the proposed $47,425,000 2013-14 proposed budget; as well as to elect two members to the board of education.

As the district clerk called out the results of the voting Tuesday night in the Todd Elementary School gymnasium, no one seemed entirely pleased with the results.

"It's a wonderful school community...and the people have spoken," said Briarcliff High School Principal James Kaishian, who will be replacing Neal Miller as superintendent in the coming year. "It's a process we have to honor."

Budget Results

Yes: 805 (51.34 percent)
No: 763 (48.66 percent)

*A supermajority was needed to pass the tax-cap busting budget.

Board of Education Election Results

Louis Linder: 780

Sal Maglietta: 800

Jonathan Satran: 885* elected

Paul Wasserman: 857* elected

The current Board released this statement regarding the budget results: "The Board of Education is disappointed that the budget did not meet with the approval of our voters. After reducing current costs by over $2 million in order to absorb next year’s costs increases, we were the only school district in Westchester that proposed a lower budget than the year before. We will now start deliberating on how to reduce this budget, and will focus on non-mandated items."

Louis "Sonny" Linder shared the following statement: "I am very very pleased with the outcome of this election. 

First, please let me congratulate our two election winners who ran a very tough, honest campaign. 

And although I did not get elected, that to me is quite secondary. Of primary importance is that the voice of the Village carried the day: that a top quality education can be achieved by following enlightened planning guidance and sound budgeting principles.

We are not in a unique situation; most of Westchester has recently conformed to tax cap levy compliance in order to rein in increasingly unaffordable tax burdens that force many families to move once their children graduate high school. I firmly believe that we can achieve the proper balance of educational excellence within the broader spectrum of issues facing our village. Of course it is going to take a lot of work, communication and cooperation between Administration, School Board and community members, and it will take awhile.

But we will prevail because it is that vital to all of us who live here."

Despite earning the most votes of all candidates, as Trustee Jonathan Satran was sworn back into office on the spot Tuesday night, he was visibly emotional as the results sunk in for him.

"I appreciate the community's support and the faith they have shown in me," he said. "I worked hard for this school district and this was a good budget. I am disappointed that people would campaign against the budget. I've said it before—I think it's wrong. And I'm sorry that tactic worked."


Candidates Paul Wasserman and Sal Maglietta did not respond to requests for comment.


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