An informal, unscientific exit poll conducted at area elementary schools on election day, Tuesday, May 18, indicated that passage of the $87.6 million budget, Proposition 1, was a shoe-in, but that Proposition 2 would be closer. Proposition 2 asked voters to decide on the replacement of grass with a turf surface on the main field and turf infields on the boys' baseball field and the girls' softball field on the Fox Lane campus, among other projects. The voters could also choose to elect three unopposed candidates for positions on the school board.

Voters adopted the budget byl,585 votes, with 865 against. For Proposition 2, 1,685 residents voted "yes," with 704 opposed. (See story, page 1.)

Resident Judy Nagelberg voted for propositions 1 and 2 at the West Patent Elementary School, where most seemed to vote for the budget and for Proposition 2. Ms. Nagelberg has a son in high school, but she said her vote was not for his education as much as it was a vote for public education in general.

"I have no agenda," she said. "Our schools are known for their excellence, and I have always voted for school budgets."

An older man's children had long ago left the school system, but he said he voted yes to the budget and Proposition 2 because he felt he had a moral obligation to educate the children in the community.

Another gentleman said he voted yes because he felt the budget presented by the school board was sound and the projected costs were within reason.

It wasn't all peaches and cream at West Patent. "I voted against it because I feel that somehow, sometime, somebody has got to do something about teachers' salaries," a voter said.

A couple exiting the Bedford Village Elementary School (BYES) said they voted for all the propositions, and it didn't matter to them that the candidates were unopposed. They said they liked all the candidates, and said they were sure they would make a contribution to the board.

Another voter at BVES said he thought the increases were reasonable when he considered all the mandated programs. "We don't want the quality of education in the area to go down," he said.

Four Bedford Hills Elementary School area residents were asked about their budget vote. Three said they voted yes because they had children in school.

"I have kids that go to school here, and it's a good system," said voter Kevin Galvin. "They should leave the system with a good education and be prepared to get a good job."

One voter said he would have to leave if taxes continue to go up. "We just got hit hard from the county and now this," he said. "How much can we stand before this place just becomes too damned expensive."

Sally O'Hara and her husband, Jim Sayegh, voted at Pound Ridge Elementary School. They voted for propositions 1 and 2, but he was hesitant to vote for Proposition 2 because he thought turf fields were not safe and he liked the idea of "natural" grass fields.

Joseph Curry, another Pound Ridge resident, said he voted for both propositions and added, "When you live in an area like this, it is a small price to pay to educate our children. They are our future, and we should treat them well."

Another Pound Ridge resident voted yes for Proposition 1 but voted no on Proposition 2. "The unspent money should have been used to decrease taxes," he said.

Another voter echoed previous thoughts on Proposition 2. "If they cared about the taxpayer, they would have used the overage to reduce taxes."

But they don't ...so they Didn't !!!- JPG