Haldane, Garrison School Budgets Pass

Voters also approve $98,150 annually for Butterfield Library

Haldane

Voters approved the Haldane Central School District’s proposed $30.2 million budget by a vote of 474-125, or 79 percent. Turnout was 13 percent.

Voters also approved spending $205,000 on school buses (476-120) and increasing the maximum amount held in the Facilities Improvement Reserve Fund to $3 million and its duration by 10 years (480-117).

In addition, the ballot included a proposition to support the Butterfield Library with $98,150 in taxes annually, which was approved, 508-86. Voters approved referendums in 2015 to provide $73,150 annually to the library and in 2006 to provide $276,000 annually.

The Haldane spending includes a 2.8 percent tax-levy increase. Using the state’s tax-cap formula, the district could have asked for a 3.38 levy increase. Board members debated this spring whether to go “to cap” but opted to forgo about $132,000 in revenue after voters last year approved an increase of 6.95 percent over three years to pay for $28.4 million in capital improvements. State aid for 2025-26 will be $4.55 million, an increase of $73,000 (1.6 percent). 

The budget includes funding for a science-of-reading curriculum; software to improve student outcomes; a new pre-K program; special education funding for out-of-district placements; increased field trip spending; a softball field dugout; classroom air conditioners to comply with New York state’s maximum temperature requirement; auditorium stage and performing arts equipment; and a transportation system analysis.

The district estimates taxes on a home valued at $500,000 will rise by $197 annually.

Sean McNall and Ezra Clementson ran unopposed to retain their seats on the five-member school board. Clementson will serve his second, 3-year term and McNall his third.

Garrison

Garrison district voters approved its proposed $14.7 million by a vote of 210-64, or 77 percent. Turnout was 12.5 percent.

By a 232-41 vote, district residents also approved a proposition that allows the district to enter into a contract for two to five years to continue sending high school students to Putnam Valley. Garrison includes grades K-8; its older students can attend Putnam Valley, Haldane or O’Neill.

There were two open seats on the seven-member board, and two incumbent candidates. Sarah Tormey was elected to her third, 3-year term and Kent Schacht to his second full term after being elected in 2021 to fill a vacancy.

The tax-levy increase of 3.58 percent was far below the 5.78 percent allowed for the district under the state’s tax-cap formula. To avoid raising the levy further, Garrison administrators proposed paying for two pilot programs — an armed police officer and a lunch program — with $1.4 million in savings. State aid will be $1.23 million, an increase of $51,000 (4.4 percent).

With the budget approval, the district will hire a Special Patrol Officer, a retired police officer whose role would be limited to security. (A School Resource Officer, or SRO, which Haldane has, is a sheriff’s deputy who also teaches classes on topics such as personal safety, cyberbullying and drug awareness.)

Student lunches will be available Monday through Thursday; on Fridays, the school will continue to sell pizza as a fundraiser.

The district estimates that a Philipstown home assessed at $300,250 will see its taxes rise by $306 annually.

$1.4 million in savings. State aid will be $1.23 million, an increase of $51,000 (4.4 percent).

With the budget approval, the district will hire a Special Patrol Officer, a retired police officer whose role would be limited to security. (A School Resource Officer, or SRO, which Haldane has, is a sheriff’s deputy who also teaches classes on topics such as personal safety, cyberbullying and drug awareness.)

Student lunches would be available Monday through Thursday; on Fridays, the school will continue to sell pizza as a fundraiser.

The district estimates that a Philipstown home assessed at $300,250 will see its taxes rise by $306 annually.

Lakeland

Voters in the district, which includes parts of Continental Village in southern Philipstown, approved a proposed $196.9 million budget by a 761-485 margin, or 61 percent. It includes a 1.8 percent tax-levy increase, below the state tax-cap of 2.09 percent. The district will receive $59.4 in state aid, an increase of $4 million (7.3 percent).

Voters also approved a $1.96 million bus/vehicle bond (825-423), and the creation of a capital reserve fund for buildings improvements and electric buses and/or infrastructure reserves, up to $25 million (814-435).

Three incumbents — Adam Kaufman (732 votes), Marianne DiSalvo Kolesar (766) and Michael Marchese (747) — ran unopposed to retain their seats on the nine-member board. Three people — Joe Ascanio (338), Laura Ferrelli (335) and James Hedberg (319) — received write-in votes.