School voters go to polls Tuesday

Most districts in region below state tax caps in budget proposals; voters will also decide school board contests

Voters on Tuesday will go to the polls to decide on area school district budgets and propositions.

Kingston

The district is seeking approval of a $175.03 million 2018-19 budget that would increase the district property tax levy by 2.62 percent, or $2.66 million, to $104.08 million. Overall spending is projected to increase by $5.45 million, or 3.21 percent.

The proposed tax levy is $991,084 below the state limit for the district.

Three school board candidates, all incumbent trustees, are seeking re-election without ballot opposition: Robin Jacobowitz, of 1408 Old Post Road, Rifton; James Shaughnessy, of 11 Delta Place, Kingston; and Danielle Guido, of 27 Coral Lane, town of Ulster.

Other propositions on the ballot:

• Seek voter authorization to create a new capital reserve fund that would hold funds from the sale of the Cioni Building.

• Allow the district to spend up to $16 million on capital projects for John F. Kennedy and Harry L. Edson elementary schools and M. Clifford Miller Middle School. The funds would come from a combination of existing reserve funds and state aid.

• Authorizing negotiations with Kingston city officials to give up the district’s 50 percent ownership of Dietz Memorial Stadium in Kingston.

Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in district elementary schools.

Onteora

Voters are being asked to approve a proposed $55.58 million

2018-19 budget that would increase the tax levy by 2.98 percent, or $1.23 million, to $42.57 million. Overall spending would increase by $1.28 million, or 2.36 percent.

The proposed tax levy is $268,754 below the state limit for the district.

In the Board of Education election, three candidates are vying for two seats, each with three-year terms. Candidates are incumbent Trustee Valerie Storey, of 44 Hickory Lane, Glenford; Leo Warren, of 4 Red Maple Road, Shokan; and incumbent Trustee Robert Kurnit, of 18 Webster Road, Woodstock.

A separate ballot proposition seeks voter approval to spend $175,000 to purchase a 65-passenger school bus and a 28-passenger school bus.

Voting will be from 2 to 9 p.m. in the three district elementary schools and the West Hurley Fire Station.

New Paltz

Voters will decide on a proposed $61.32 million 2018-19 budget that would increase the district tax levy by 3.21 percent, or $1.32 million, to $42.38 million. Overall spending would increase

by $2.32 million, or 3.93 percent.

The proposed property tax levy equals the state limit for the district.

In the Board of Education race, six candidates are vying for three open seats: Joe Garcia, of 7 Unity Lane, New Paltz; incumbent Trustee Brian Cournoyer, of 891 Old Post Road, New Paltz; Diana Armstead, of 14 Cherry Hill Road, New Paltz; incumbent Trustee Michael O’Donnell, of 129 Stella Drive, Gardiner; Glenn LaPolt, of 14 Morningstar Drive, New Paltz; and Meghan Goodnow, of 175 Main St., Gardiner.

Also on the ballot will be proposition to spend $480,000 to purchase three 30-passenger buses and three 65-passenger buses.

Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at New Paltz High School on South Putt Corners Road.

Saugerties

District voters will decide on a proposed $62.38 million 2018-19 budget that would increase the property tax levy by 2.53 percent, or $956,610, to $38.73 million. Overall spending would increase by 2.53 percent, or $1.58 million.

The proposed property tax levy is equal to the state limit for the district.

In the Board of Education race, three incumbent

trustees are uncontested for three seats, each carrying three-year terms. Seeking re-election are trustee Robert Thomann, of 16 Neighborhood Drive; James Mooney, of 6 Redwood Road; and Raymond Maclary, of 7 Willow Lane.

Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the district’s four elementary schools.

Rondout Valley

On the ballot will be a proposed $64.31 million budget proposal, funded by a $35.79 million property tax levy that would represents an increase of $632,848, or 1.8 percent. Overall spending would increase by $920,630, or 1.45 percent.

The proposed property tax levy is $206,344 below the state limit for the district.

In the Board of Education race, 10 candidates are competing for five seats on the board; three seats will have three-year terms and two will each have oneyear terms. The candidates are incumbent Trustee Gail Hutchins, of 2 Romney Way, Cottekill; Natalysse Stein, of 15 Werner Road, Kerhonkson; Stephanie DiakSalmonsen, of 575 county Route 2, Accord; Brian Martin, of 3338 Main St., Stone Ridge; Kimberly Cohen, of 190 Pinebush Road, Stone

Ridge; incumbent Trustee Nicole Parete, of 37 Cindy Lane, Stone Ridge; incumbent Trustee Rebecca Versace, of 14 Church Hill Road, High Falls; Elissa Jury, of 28 Pompey’s Cave Road, High Falls; David Bendell, of 6118 Route 209, High Falls; and Gerald Fornino, of 19 Deer Tail Trail, Accord.

Voters will also decide on a proposition to donate a small parcel of unused land at School Hill Road and Fourth Street in High Falls to the town of Marbletown.

Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the district office next to Rondout Valley High School on Kyserike Road.

Ellenville

District voters will decide on a $51.88 million budget proposal that would increase the district tax levy by 1.65 percent, or $389,226, to $24 million. Overall spending would increase by 3.96 percent, or $1.98 million.

The proposed property tax levy is equal to the state limit for the district.

In the Board of Education race, five candidates are vying for three board seats, each with three-year terms. On the ballot are incumbent Trustee Iris Friedman, of 45 Tuthill Ave., Ellenville; Migdalia NegronCarpenter, of 65 Irish Cape Road, Napanoch; incumbent Trustee Wayne Storey, of 42 McDole Road, Ellenville; Lisa Ramirez, of 90 Firehouse Road, Wurtsboro; and Cassie Spoor, of 18 Clifford St., Ellenville.

Voting will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Ellenville High School, 28 Maple Ave.

Highland

Officials are seeking voter approval of a proposed $45.28 million budget that would increase the district tax levy by 4.45 percent, or $1.19 million, to $28 million. Overall spending would increase by $2.41 million, or 5.63 percent.

The proposed property tax levy is equal to the state limit for the district.

Running without opposition for three seats on the Board of Education, each with three-year terms, are incumbent Trustee Michael Bakatsias, of 2 Mayer Drive, Highland; incumbent Trustee Edward Meisel, of 21 Mile Hill Road; and Camille Adoma, of 19 Hilltop Lane, Highland.

Voters will also consider an $8 million proposition to pay for safety renovations at the three district schools.

Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Highland High School, 320 Pancake Hollow Road.

Red Hook

The proposed budget of $54.13 million would increase the property tax levy

by 2.17 percent, or $713,200, to $33.56 million. Overall spending would increase by 2.1 percent, or $1.11 million.

The proposed tax levy is $83 below the state limit for the district.

In the Board of Education race, four candidates are vying for one seat with a three-year term: Dean Button, of 15 Spring Lake Road; Lauren Arcomano, of 223 Pitcher Lane; Daniel J. Rinaldi, of 8 Southview Lane; and Kate Kortbus, of 10 Sunrise Drive.

Voting will be from noon to 9 p.m. at Mill Road Elementary School, Mill Road.

Rhinebeck

Voters will decide on a proposed $33.92 million budget that would increase the district tax levy by 3.23 percent, or $901,184, to $28.81 million. Overall spending would increase by $798,762, or 2.41 percent.

The proposed property tax levy is even with the state limit for the district.

Three candidates are vying for two school board seats, each with three-year terms: incumbent Trustee Diane Lyons, of 665 Willowbrook Road; incumbent Trustee Mark Fleischhauer, of 146 Rhinecliff Road; and David Lavallee, of 944 state Route 308.

Voting will be from 2 to 9 p.m. at Rhinebeck High School on North Park Road.