Voters approved a $7.5 million tax levy supporting the proposed $16.8 million 2009-10 budget by a vote of 364-282.

Under the budget, the owner of a home assessed at $266,100 — the average for South Amboy — will see an increase of $84, a 3.1-percent increase from the current year.

For the three three-year terms on the board, newcomer Lynn Kasics received 523 votes and newcomer Paula L. Taggart received 403 votes. The large number of ballot write-ins had not been tabulated as of press time.

A second budget question on the ballot asked voters to approve an additional $42,000 that would bring back sports programs that were cut from the middle school this year. Even though more people voted yes than no, 343-282, the question needed at least 60 percent of the voters to say yes. Only 55 percent said yes.