Voters in Peekskill-Cortlandt’s School Districts Approve Budgets

Hundreds of voters turned out to cast their ballots on the 2012-2013 school district budgets today and all three budgets in the Peekskill-Cortlandt school districts passed. The budget passed with 820 yes votes and 336 no votes.

The $74 million budget passed with 426 yes votes and 271 no votes.

The $157 million _passed with 1,056 yes votes and 381 no votes. All numbers are unofficial until approved by the school boards.

were focused on the budgets and the jobs that would be cut under the proposed budget, and what the district would cut, expand and adjust in order to provide quality education at as little expense to residents as possible.

supporters of the budget in Peekskill said they believed education supports the whole community, while others said they felt the budget was too high and would cost them too much in taxes. 

Most voters in the three school districts told Patch that because education is important to the community they were in favor of the budgets. Those who spoke against it said they felt the budgets were just too high and would raise taxes too much for people who are not experiencing raises and price of living increases in their salaries. 

Hendrick Hudson School District

The Hendrick Hudson School District experienced a typical turnout, according to school staff.

-A total of 1,304 people voted this year; a total of 1398 voted for the 2011-2012 proposal.

-The $70,603,156 budget would raise the tax levy by about 1.06 percent for Hendrick Hudson taxpayers. The tax rate would increase by about 1.72 percent for Cortlandt residents and decrease by 1.66 percent for Peekskill residents who pay Hen Hud taxes.

- Voters also approved the bond proposals to replace sections of roof at Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary and the High School and the bond proposal to purchase transportation vehicles for special needs students. The bus proposition received 764 yes votes and 490 no votes. The roof proposition received 879 yes votes and 362 no votes. 

-Laurie Ryan and Mary Pat Briggi were re-elected to their school board positions. Their candidacy's were unopposed. 

-Hen Hud Superintendent Dr. Daniel McCann: “We are deeply gratified our community came out to support our budget. This budget reflected difficult choices but at its core preserved a majority of the programs and opportunities our students and community have come to expect from our school district.”

Read the school's press release .

Peekskill City School District

-The Peekskill City School District experienced a higher turnout of voters this year than last with a total of 697 people who voted on the proposed budget this year. Last year about 577 residents voted. There are 33 absentee ballots that will be opened and counted tomorrow. The absentee ballots could affect the school board elections.

-The   represents a 3.2 percent increase from last year’s budget and will raise taxes 3.3 percent.

-The budget received 426 yes votes (61 percent) and 271 no votes (39 percent).

- , , , and ran for the two open school board positions. Footman and Smith tentatively won the election with 373 and 360 votes, respectively. However, the absentee ballots could put Aspinall ahead of Smith. If Smith and Footmon are the two final elected school board officials, they will both be serving their first terms in that position. Incumbent Bobe received 280 votes, and Aspinall had 347 votes.

-Peekskill Superintendent Jim Willis: Willis said that he was very pleased that more than 60 percent of voters realized that the district is trying to do positive things despite the economy and understand this was the best budget possible under the circumstances. However, he added, "We passed this budget, but we still have lots of challenges ahead." 

Read the details of the Lakeland school budget vote and election .