Residents went to the polls on Tuesday and voted on proposed school budgets for the 2006-2007 school year. Residents of the Franklin Square and Elmont School Districts passed their school districts budgets while residents of the West Hempstead School District failed theirs.

Residents of the Elmont School District continued to support their educational program, approving the budget by a 1,343 to 920 margin. The Elmont budget called for a 5.92 percent spending increase but a 2.86 tax levy increase.

The big news in Elmont though came in the school board race as challenger Frank Ragona defeated longtime school board member Ken Williams by a 1,249 to 1,165 margin.

In the race for the seat that belonged to Joy Madera, who decided not to run for re-election, Pamela Byer edged out Patrick Nicolosi by a 1,252 to 1,187 margin.

Residents of the Franklin Square School District passed their district's budget by a 1,083 to 958 margin. The budget called for a 5.95 percent spending increase and a 6.37 percent increase in the tax levy.

In the race for school board, Helen Hoffman defeated Alan Lahti by a 933 to 785 margin while Pam Margaroli ran unopposed.

Residents of the component districts of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, which includes Elmont, Franklin Square, Floral Park-Bellerose and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park passed the budget by 4,066 to 3,552 margin. The budget called for a 5.94 percent spending increase and a 4.9 percent increase in the tax levy.

Residents of the Valley Stream Central High School District passed its budget by a 2,522 to 1,968 margin. The budget called for a 5.96 percent spending increase and a 3.23 percent increase in the tax levy.

Residents of the West Hempstead School District failed to pass the proposed budget as 1,207 voted against the budget and 1,004 voted in favor of it. The budget called for a 6.78 spending increase and a 4.44 tax levy increase.

School board trustees James Mariano and Carole Rilling ran unopposed and were re-elected.

Residents passed the library budget by a 1,090 to 1,056 margin and a proposition to expand the school bus service failed by a margin of 1,163 to 913.