Residents in the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District voted to re-elect Board of Education President James Reddan, Trustee Danielle Messina, and approve the 2023-2024 budget Tuesday night.

Also on the ballot was the Hillside Public Library budget, library trustee Sloan Vahldieck and a proposition to expend $10.3 million for districtwide electrical and air conditioning upgrades. All were approved. 

Reddan, an incumbent, ran unopposed for a fourth term on the board and secured 603 total votes. He serves as one of two district liaisons to the Sewanhaka Board of Education. 

Trustee Danielle Messina, who did not file a petition to qualify for a place on the ballot, won re-election with 54 write-in votes. Messina, who was appointed to the trustee position in 2020, did not run for re-election.

Both will serve a three-year term. 

The $46.6 million budget was approved with 528 out of 810 total votes, or 65.19%. 

The budget has an increase of $2.4 million, or 5.4% over the current budget. Despite the growth in the size of the budget, the tax levy will remain flat for the 2023-24 year, largely due to an increase in state aid of $1.8 million.

The largest increases in expenditures came in the categories of salaries and benefits, with spending on textbooks and equipment actually decreasing relative to the previous year.

Based on district enrollment numbers from the 2022-2023 school year, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park is spending $28,519.34 per pupil according to the proposed budget.

Budget highlights include a school psychologist, speech therapist and a coach for math and science, among other things.

A special education class, library media center and innovation labs are also included in the budget.

Facility improvements include new basketball hoops, flooring in libraries, new gymnasium padding at Hillside Grade School and Manor Oaks School and repairing the padding at Garden City Park School.

The $10.3 million proposition for air conditioning and electrical upgrades was approved with 558 out of 814 total votes, or 68.55%. 

The Hillside Public Library’s $2,992,975 budget, which reflects no increase in library taxes, passed with 608 out of 808 total votes, or 75.25%.

Library Trustee Sloan Vahldieck was re-elected to another five-year term with 543 total votes.