Approximately 300 people voted in the Babylon Village Library budget and trustee elections yesterday, approving the Library's spending plan for 2009-10 by a vote of 214 to 100 and putting Trustee Mary Gallagher back on the Library Board for another fiveyears. She edged out her opponent, Gail Askoff by a vote of 187-119. "I am delighted to be able to continue to serve on this board and represent the Library users and taxpayers of Babylon," said Gallagher afterthe vote was counted. Askoff said she was disappointed but happy to have been able to provide voters with a choice at the polls. "I think that people should feel that they have a choice when they come out to vote and if my candidacy got more people to the polls then I am happy," she said. "I tried." Askoff had run on a platform of change, saying that Gallagher's 20 years on the board was long enough. Gallagher said she believes the vote showed that experience made the difference. "And, I have been very active in the Village; people know me," she said in analyzing the outcome of the vote. "I am happy that I will be able to finish everything I wanted to do."

Library Director Marina Sullivan, left, and Library Board President Andy Calimano, right, congratulate newly re-elected Trustee Mary Gallagher, center, following the announcements of the results of the Trustee election and budget vote Tues., April 14. Other results: In Deer Park, 109 voters approved the budget to the 37 who said no. Their $3,112,824 budget comes with a 2.8 percent increase over last year's $3,026,166. The tax rate is actually going down by 5 percent if you consider that last year saw a 7.8 percent increase and this year will be 2.8 percent. The tax levy, however, increases to $3,036,140 over last year's $2,984,567. Deer Park incumbent Trustee Maria Antonelli was reelected for her five-year seat. In West Babylon, 120 residents passed the Library budget while 22 tried to vote it down. The$2,972,937 is an increase over last year's $2,908,620. Thetax rate also goes up to $8.62 vs. last year's $8.38. Incumbent Joyce Mangialino kept her seat for fivemore years with 128 votes.

The North Babylon Library budget passed 195 votes to 55. The proposed budget is an increase of 2.8 percent with $2,841,370 over last year's $2,773,370. Their tax rate is increased to $8.03 over last year's $7.81, so a house assessed at $3,500 would pay $281.15. Incumbent Trustee Anna Fogel kept her five-year seat with 146 votes over 87 votes for newcomer Ian Wilder.

In West Islip, next year's budget was passed by 335 votes while 109 voted no. Its $3,272,881 budget increases 1.85 percent over last year's $3,212,802. Taxes also go up 1.5 percent or an additional $6.30 per year. West Islip Library trustee Simonne Harkavy kept her five-year seat with 297 votes. In Lindenhurst the budget passed 283-83. The budget for the coming year is the same as the current budget of $4,190,600. Shawn Cullinane, incumbent Lindenhurst trustee, kept his five-year seat with 198 votes.