The Farmingdale budget and proposition votes and trustee elections were held on May 17 at Howitt Middle School.

Voters chose candidates to serve a three-year term on the Farmingdale Board of Education. Incumbent Charles J. Russo defeated challenger Joseph A. Stufano by a margin of over 600 votes. Terry McPartland and Steve Wilson ran against incumbent Jane Schriro Rubinstein. Wilson won Rubinstein's seat by a large margin.

The proposed budget adopted by the Farmingdale Board of Education was $121,919,726 for the 2005-2006 school year, which represents a 6.36 percent increase over the previous year's budget of $114,625,481. The proposed tax levy increase over 2004-2005 is 5.92 percent. Local residents voted the budget down in a 2,211 (yes) to 2,710 (no) vote.

In addition to the budget vote (Proposition No. 1) and trustee election, several propositions were put up for public vote as well. Proposition No. 2, that the Farmingdale Youth Council Appropriation for the fiscal year 205-2006 as submitted, shall be approved and the requisite amount thereof raised by taxation on the taxable property of the district, passed.

Proposition No. 3, that excess fund balance from capital funds be allocated in the amount of $1,671,029 for the purpose of brick replacement and repair at Farmingdale High School and Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, exterior door replacement at Farmingdale High School, roof drain replacement at Howitt Middle School and replacement of the dehumidification system for the Farmingdale High School swimming pool, passed.

Proposition No. 4, commencing with the annual election held in May 2006, that vacancies on the Board of Education not be considered separate and specific seats, rather elections shall be at large, and that nominating petitions are not to describe any specific vacancy for which a candidate is nominated, passed.

Proposition No. 5, shall the Farmingdale Union Free School District modify its public school transportation eligibility effective July 1, 2005 as follows: for pupils in grade 6, from the existing one-half mile limit to a new one mile limit, passed.

The results were reported by District Clerk Josephine Murray and are as follows:

Charles J. Russo	2,180	Terry McPartland	891
Joseph Stufano	1,503	Jane Schriro Rubinstein	1,353
		Steve Wilson	2,336

According to Murray, dates for a special hearing or budget revote had not been established when the Farmingdale Observer went to press. The next meeting of the Farmingdale Board of Education will be on Wednesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. at Howitt Middle School.