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Orange County Votes On School Budgets, New Buses, Capital Reserves

As Orange County residents go to the polls on Tuesday, May 15, they'll be asked to OK a number of school budgets that seek to spend close to the state-imposed tax cap.

The Newburgh School District proposes selling the Washington Street School, among other ballot issues on Tuesday.

The Newburgh School District proposes selling the Washington Street School, among other ballot issues on Tuesday.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Other school districts, meanwhile, have proposed creating "capital reserve funds," or so-called "rainy day" accounts for repairs or other emergency expenses. And several school districts seek taxpayer approval to buy new school buses.

Here is a summary of major budget and ballot issues, in addition to school board elections:

  • Chester School District proposes a $27.6 million budget.
  • Cornwall School District proposes a $71.5 million budget. The school district also wants to set up a $5 million capital reserve fund.
  • Florida School District proposes a $21.7 million budget. Florida also wants to create a capital reserve fund for an unspecified amount of money. The school district also wants approval to allow continuous voter registration.
  • Goshen School District proposes a $71.3 million budget. Goshen also proposes buying eight school buses for $656,248. And, the district is seeking voters' OK to spend nearly $4 million from its capital reserve fund.
  • Greenwood Lake proposes a $26.6 million school budget. The school district also seeks to increase its reserve fund by $2.5 million.
  • Highland Falls proposes a $30.6 million school budget.
  • Kiryas Joel proposes a nearly $25.7 million school budget. 
  • Middletown proposes a $190 million school budget. 
  • Minisink Valley proposes a nearly $100 million school budget. The district also wants to buy 11 school buses for $954,539. 
  • Monroe-Woodbury proposes a school budget of $176.6 million. The school district also seeks permission to spend $1.1 million to buy 10 buses.
  • Newburgh Schools propose an annual budget of $275.4 million. The school district also seeks to set up a $10 million capital reserve. Newburgh has proposed selling its Washington Street School. (see a related news article here.) Finally, the district wants to spend $400,000 for expanded busing.
  • A separate ballot issue would allow the City of Newburgh to collect $5.1 million for the Newburgh Free Library.
  • Also, the City of Newburgh is seeking voter support to approve a Cold War veterans property tax exemption. 
  • Pine Bush seeks approval of a $116.2 million school budget. Pine Bush also seeks to create a capital reserve fund. And, the school district wants to spend $7 million on "energy projects."
  • Port Jervis has proposed a school budget totaling $72.2 million.
  • Tuxedo has proposed a school budget of $13.1 million. Tuxedo also seeks to set up a capital reserve of $250,000 and a "fund repair reserve" of $150,000.
  • Valley Central Schools propose a budget of $104.2 million.
  • Warwick Valley proposes a school budget of $92.8 million. The school district also proposes buying five new buses for $485,000.  Finally, the school district seeks to set up an annual repair reserve of $150,000, capped at a total of $750,000. 
  • Washingtonville Schools propose a budget of $99.2 million. The school district also seeks to buy eight buses for $989,827.

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