It appears that things are returning to normal in the Roslyn School District.

While the embezzlement scandals involving former superintendent Dr. Frank A. Tassone and several other high-ranking school district officials led to much rancor over budget votes and especially, Board of Education elections in recent years, the 2008-09 budget had no difficulty in being approved by voters in the school district.

On last Tuesday, May 20, the budget passed by a 1,024 to 605 margin. Likewise, a proposition approving expenditure from the Capital Reserve Fund also passed by a similar 1,132 to 442 vote.

In addition, neither of the two incumbents up for re-election to the Board of Education faced opposition. Both Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy and Clifford Saffron were re-elected to another three-year term.

The approved 2008-09 budget amounts to $94,178,999, itself a 4.60 percent increase over the current year.

The tax levy, school officials said, is projected to increase 4.90 percent with an estimated average property tax increase of 5.66 percent.

The approved budget includes such initiatives as a summer academic program, a new alternative program at Roslyn High School, increased foreign language offerings at both the middle school and the high school, and a reading and writing project of Columbia University's Teachers College.

On the buildings front, the budget includes such renovation projects at the middle school auditorium, the middle school outdoor athletic complex, and the high school running track.

The approved ballot proposition involved a transfer of $1.5 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for new capital projects. School officials claim that no tax increase will come from such a transfer.

Also on the May 20 ballot was the 2008-09 Bryant Library budget, which was approved by a 1,040 to 559 vote.

The library budget contains a spending increase of 5.83 percent and a revenue increase of 3.45 percent. To help offset high energy costs, library officials obtained a $6,100 New York State Construction Aid grant. A partnership with Friends of Bryant Library has helped to provide more services, equipment and other materials designed to both lower costs and enhance services. In addition, the Nassau Digital Doorway Consortium, library officials said, will save the library $18,600 annually.