Port Washington Board of Education members Julie Epstein and Rachel Gilliar were re-elected Tuesday night, as residents voted them both for another term and for the school district’s budget to be implemented.

Residents also voted to adopt the district’s 2023-2024 budget of $184,265,295 with a 2.63% tax levy increase.

The budget received 1,951 affirmative votes and 522 negative votes.

The newly adopted budget is increasing by 5.39%, compared to the district’s 2022-2023 budget established at $174.8 million.

The tax levy for 2023-2024 is $154.5 million, a 2.63% increase from the prior tax levy of $150.6 million.

The district’s current enrollment is estimated at 5,273 students, according to the last enrollment report provided at the board’s May 2 meeting. This is 40 more students than the district had at the same time last year, according to Assistant Superintendent Christopher Shields.

Based on the most recent enrollment numbers provided by the district, the 2023-2024 budget would approximate $34,945 in spending per pupil.

Voting occurred Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. in the all purpose room at Weber Middle School.

The two trustees re-elected faced an election unopposed. They will both serve another three-year term which begins on July 1 and concludes on June 30, 2026.

Epstein was elected for a second term on the board of education, receiving 1,912 votes.

Epstein previously told Blank Slate that she ran for re-election because she wants to continue helping move the school district forward.

She said her goal is to work with the board with the intent to serve the school district and its students to the highest degree, being proactive rather than reactive. She said she has no special interests but wants to work for the students and their district.

“I have enjoyed my time on the board and it has been one of the greater challenges I have had in my life and I appreciate how it challenges me to think and see things from new and different perspectives,” Epstein said. “I do look forward to continuing that and I look forward to having my colleagues challenge me, the community challenge us and we all move forward for great growth and achievement within our Port Washington School District.”

Gilliar was re-elected for her third term on the board with 1,849 votes.

She previously told Blank Slate that her goals for another term have been consistent throughout her tenure on the board, one of which is actively working on fostering a beneficial relationship between parents and the district.

“I don’t think that relationship should ever be adversarial,” Gilliar said. “I think parents have an absolute right to advocate for their kids as long as they do it in a way where it’s respectful of the professionals who are educating their children.”