With 758 yes votes, and 770 no votes, residents of Plainedge rejected a budget that would have increased the tax rate in the district by 4.1 percent.

The proposed budget was $48. 8 million, up from last year's budget of $43.99 million. If approved, the spending plan would have increased the tax rate in the district from $74.99 to $80.75. The district anticipated receiving a slight increase in state aid of approximately $21 million.

"We are very disappointed by both the outcome and the relatively low voter turnout," said District Clerk and Public Information Head Alice Mateos. Currently, there is no re-vote scheduled. The board will discuss its next step at a meeting May 30.

This blow to the district is mitigated slightly by the recent announcement by Senator Kemp Hannon (R-6th senate district) that the 2002-03 state budget will include an increase of $478,730 in state aid for the Plainedge District. The increase is a result of lower than anticipated school building aid payments associated with aid reforms adopted in October 2001. This building aid is a direct reimbursement to the district based on what they actually spent on construction projects relating to last year's full day kindergarten initiatives.

Three incumbents ran for seats on the Plainedge School Board. President Maryann Karageorges, Ralph Raymond and Ellen Ryder were all re-elected.

The library budget passed.

In Massapequa, voters approved a budget of $112,253.690, an increase of 5.85 percent over last year's budget of $106, 051. 698. The number of yes votes was 1,944, and the number of no votes was 1,381. Residents will see a tax rate increase from $58.94 to $64.43.

After Paul Dashefsky withdrew from the race, four candidates vied for three seats on the Massapequa School Board, with Christine Lupetin Perrino, Richard Krebs, and Scott Brown winning the seats. Lupetin Perrino had 2,095 votes, Krebs had 1,933, Brown had 1,577, and Thomas Joachim had 1,432.