Election Guide: Schools (2024)

Budget votes, school board elections set for May 21

Beacon

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters who live in Beacon can cast ballots at Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road; district residents in Fishkill and Wappinger can vote at Glenham Elementary, 20 Chase Drive in Fishkill. Applications for absentee ballots are due Monday and completed ballots must be submitted to the district clerk by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Beacon is proposing an $83.9 million spending plan (bit.ly/beacon-24budget), an increase of 3 percent. The tax levy rises to $47.7 million, a 3.9 percent increase that is the maximum allowed under the state’s tax cap.

According to the district, the annual increase for a Beacon resident who owns a home worth $425,000 about the median value in Dutchess, would be about $88. For Fishkill and Wappinger residents in the district, the estimated increase would be $100 and $106, respectively.

In addition to the budget, voters will be asked to approve $50 million in spending on an array of capital projects, including heating, ventilation and energy-efficiency upgrades, new roofs on some buildings, an upgraded stage and theater at Beacon High School and new playground equipment at Sargent and Glenham elementaries.

A third proposition would allow the district to purchase a second electric school bus. Voters approved buying one electric bus last year but it has yet to be purchased. The district has received approval from New York State for vouchers providing $257,250 for each bus, which, including a charger, sells for $495,000.

The fourth proposition would permit the district to spend $485,000 to buy three 72-passenger, gas-powered buses.

There are also four candidates for three open seats on the Beacon school board. You can read their responses here to three questions we posed.

Garrison

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the school gymnasium at 1100 Route 9D. Applications for absentee ballots are due Monday. Completed ballots must be submitted to the district clerk by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Garrison is proposing a $13.4 million budget (bit.ly/garrison-budget24), an increase of 6.4 percent. The levy rises by 4.4 percent to $11.2 million, the maximum amount allowed under the state’s tax cap. Annual taxes on a property valued at $400,000 would increase $143.

The district is proposing to add a kindergarten teacher ($116,700) to meet a projected enrollment increase and spend $69,000 for an arts-in-education program through Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES, $30,000 for a new school sign and $25,000 for field trips.

High school tuition expenses for 11 additional students in grades nine to 12 will rise by $168,034, and the district is budgeting $250,000 to replace the gymnasium roof (to be offset by a $125,000 grant upon completion) and $78,073 more for transportation services.

The ballot includes three additional propositions. Two authorize the district to extend through June 2029 its contracts to send eighth-grade graduates to Haldane and O’Neill high schools.

A fourth proposition allows the district to register voters throughout the year instead of on two specific dates. Registration would be cut off five days before an election or vote.

There are also three candidates for three open seats on the Garrison school board. You can read their responses here to three questions we posed.

Haldane

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the elementary school library at 15 Craigside Drive. Applications for absentee ballots are due by 4 p.m. on Monday and completed ballots must be received by the district clerk by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Haldane is proposing a $29.2 million budget that represents a 3.45 percent increase in overall spending. The levy rises by 2.8 percent to $22.8 million, and stays within the tax cap. Property taxes on a home valued at $500,000 will increase by $203, according to the district.

The budget (bit.ly/haldane-budget24) funds the addition of a second English as a New Language teacher ($100,000) and a third counselor ($100,000), and allocates $77,000 to give the district two full-time psychologists.

Voters will decide on two additional propositions: borrowing $275,380 to purchase two buses (a 65-passenger and a 16-passenger with a lift) and a zero-turn mower; and using $750,000 in capital reserves to replace the athletic field turf.

There are also two candidates for two open seats on the Haldane school board. You can read their responses here to three questions we posed.