Voters OK all school budgets for 2018-19

Several separate spending propositions also approved

Proposed school district budgets for 2018-19 were approved Tuesday by voters in Ulster County and Northern Dutchess, as were several separate spending proportions.

Voters also elected members to their respective boards of education.

Here’s a district-by-district roundup.

Kingston

Voters overwhelmingly approved the district’s proposed budget, as well as three other propositions on the ballot.

The $175 million spending plan passed by a vote of 1,523597. It raises spending by 3.2 percent over the 2017-18 level and increases the property tax levy by 2.6 percent.

The votes for the other three propositions were:

• 1,617-459 in favor of creating a new capital reserve fund to hold funds from the sale of the Cioni Building.

• 1,586-500 in favor of the district spending up to $16 million on capital projects at John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Harry L. Edson Elementary School and M. Clifford Miller Middle School. The money will come from a combination of existing reserve funds and state aid.

• 1,673-413 in favor of starting negotiations with the city of Kingston about the district giving up it 50 percent ownership of Dietz Stadium.

Re-elected to three-year terms on the school board, without opposition, were Robin Jacobowitz, with 1,614 votes, James Shaughnessy, with 1,608, and Danielle Guido,1,583 votes.

Ellenville

Voters approved a $51.9 million budget and returned two incumbents to the Board of Education, along with a newcomer.

The budget was adopted by a vote of 416-119. It increases spending by about 4 percent over the 2017-18 level and the property tax levy by 1.7 percent.

In the election for Board of Education seats, the three winners were incumbent Iris Friedman, with 381 votes, incumbent Wayne Storey, with 355, and Lisa Ramirez, with 335.

Out of the running were Cassie Spoor, with 242 votes, and Migdalia Negron-Carpenter, with 126.

Highland

Voters adopted a $45.3 million budget for the coming fiscal year, as well as an $8 million capital project and a proposal to buy several vehicles.

The budget was adopted by a vote of 595-301. It increases spending by 5.6 percent over the 2017-18 level and the property tax levy by 4.5 percent.

A proposition to create an $8 million capital project fund to pay for safety upgrades at the district’s three schools was adopted by a vote of 583-308.

Voters also approved, by 589-305, a proposition to purchase three 65-passenger buses, two 30-passenger vans, one wheelchair van, a seven-passenger Suburban and miscellaneous equipment at a total cost not to exceed $588,000.

Elected, unopposed, to three-year terms on the Board of Education were incumbent Edward Meisel, with 628 votes, incumbent Michael Bakatsias, with 603 votes, and Camille Adoma, with 582 votes.

New Paltz

The school district’s proposed $61.3 million budget won easy approval, 1,540582.

The budget increases spending by 3.9 percent over the 2017-18 level and raises the property tax levy by 3.2 percent.

Elected to three-year terms on the Board of Education were Diana Armstead, with 1,161 votes, Michael O’Donnell, with 1,178, and Glenn LaPolt, with 1,114 votes.

Out of the running were incumbent Brian Cournoyer,

with 1,021 votes, Joe Garcia, with 734, and Meghan Goodnow, with 604.

A proposal to spend a total of $480,000 to purchase three 30-passenger buses and three 65-passenger buses was approved, 1,464-644.

Onteora

Voters approved a $55.6 million budget by a tally of 722-242.

The budget is 2.4 percent larger than the district’s 2017-18 spending plan and increases the property tax levy by 3 percent.

Elected to three-year seats on the Board of Education were Robert Kurnit, with 633 votes, and Valerie Storey, with 498.

Out of the running was Leo Warren, with 334 votes.

A proposition to spend a total of $175,000 to purchase a 65-passenger school bus and a 28-passenger school bus was approved by a vote of 726-231.

Red Hook

The school district’s proposed $54.1 million budget was approved by a vote of 834-253.

The budget is 2.1 percent larger than the district’s 2017-18 spending plan and increases the property tax levy by 2.2 percent.

The lone Board of Education seat up for election was won by Kate Kortbus, with 486 votes. She’ll serve a three-year term.

Out of the running

were Dean Button, with 235 votes, Daniel Rinaldi, with 207, and Lauren Arcomano, with 80.

A proposition to spend a total of $550,000 to buy four buses, two Ford Expeditions and a Ford Fusion was approved, 810-272.

The request by the Red Hook Library for a $10,000 increase its annual budget was approved, 807-278. The library budget will be $146,000.

Rhinebeck

Voters approved a $33.9 million budget and returned two incumbents to the Board of Education.

The budget was adopted by a vote of 448-133. It increases spending by 2.4 percent over the 2017-18 level and raises the property tax levy by 3.23 percent.

In the Board of Education race, incumbent Diane Lyons drew 445 votes and incumbent Mark Fleischhauer received 316 to secure the two available seats.

Finishing out of the running was David Lavallee, with 254 votes.

Rondout Valley

The proposed school district budget was approved by a margin of better than 3to1.

The vote in favor of the $64.3 million spending plan was 725-218.

The budget raises spending by about 1.5 percent from the 2017-18 level and the property tax levy by 1.8

percent.

Elected to three-year terms on the Board of Education were incumbent Gail Hutchins, with 595 votes, incumbent Nicole Parete, with 489, and Brian Martin, with 456.

Elected to one-year terms were Elissa Jury, with 454 votes, and incumbent Rebecca Versace, with 420.

Out of the running were David Bendell (378 votes), Kimberly Cohen (320) votes, Gerald Fornino (297), Natalysse Stein (167) and Stephanie Diak-Salmonsen (143).

An anticipated proposition to donate a small parcel of unused land at School Hill Road and Fourth Street in High Falls to the town of Marbletown was not on the ballot after district officials learned the donation could be accomplished by a vote of the school board.

Saugerties

Voters approved a $62.4 million budget that increases spending 2.5 percent.

The budget was adopted by a vote of 663-345. It has a property tax levy of $38.7 million, which is 2.5 percent above the current year’s levy.

In the race for three seats on the Board of Education, elected unopposed were: Raymond Maclary, with 767 votes, James Mooney, with 753, and incumbent Robert Thomann, with 750.

A powerful storm that moved through the area Tuesday afternoon knocked out electricity at the Grant D. Morse Elementary School, board Clerk Sherry Francello said. She said a generator had to be used to run the voting machines.

Greene, Columbia counties

CATSKILL: The proposed $41.8 million budget was approved, 312-229, and the Catskill Library budget was favored by a vote of 383-158.

Elected to the Catskill school board were: Tracy Darling received, with 417 votes, James P. Nearey Jr., with 336, and Jeremy Engelin, with 264.

Out of the running was Ryan Osswald, with 257 votes.

GERMANTOWN: The proposed $14.9 million budget was approved, 23691.

The spending plan is 0.7 percent larger than its 2017-18 counterpart and increases the property tax levy by 3.1 percent.

Voters also approved the creation of a capital reserve fund for building improvements, 229-97.

Elected to four-year terms on the school board were Heather Schultz and incumbent Donald Coons.