Highlands Current Audio Stories

School Votes Set for May 20


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Budget and trustee elections in Philipstown, Beacon
Voters in the Highlands will go to the polls on Tuesday (May 20) to consider school district budgets for 2025-26 and elect board members. Here's a rundown.
Beacon
Beacon's $87.7 million budget proposal includes a 5.09 percent tax-levy increase, just under the maximum allowed for the district by New York State. The levy will generate more than $50 million in property taxes. At $31.6 million - an increase of $572,000 (1.9 percent), state aid makes up the bulk of the remaining revenue. The district expects to spend $2.5 million of its savings in 2025-26, an increase of $500,000 over this year.
Most of the discussion in recent board meetings has revolved around the tax levy, which stands to increase because of new development in Beacon - meaning the "pie" is divided into more pieces through the addition of taxpaying households - and debt service on a $50 million capital project approved last year by voters.
The capital improvements will begin in 2026 and include secure building entrances, creation of cooling centers in schools, air conditioning in up to 50 percent of elementary classrooms, infrastructure upgrades such as roofing, upgrades to the Beacon High School baseball and softball fields and renovations to the theater at the high school.
District officials say that, if approved, the budget will allow them to maintain improvements made in recent years, including smaller elementary class sizes, increased mental health support for students and a full-day pre-K program.
For the first time, the district plans to launch a summer workshop program for incoming high school students and create an in-school mental health clinic at Rombout Middle School. It will also add teachers for elementary students struggling in math and reading and hire a part-time elementary speech instructor.
While the proposed levy increase is more than 5 percent, the addition of new households to the tax rolls means homeowners' bills may not go up by the same percentage. The district estimates that the owner of a $420,200 home (the median value) in Beacon would see their taxes increase by $240 annually.
Meredith Heuer and Semra Ercin are running unopposed for re-election to the nine-member school board. Heuer will return for her fourth, 3-year term; Ercin is running for her first full term after being elected in 2023 to complete the final two years of a vacated seat. Alena Kush did not file for a second term and her seat will be filled by a newcomer, Catherine Buscemi, the owner of Belfry Historic Consultants, who is also running unopposed.
The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Beacon residents vote at the high school at 101 Matteawan Road; Fishkill and Wappinger residents vote at Glenham Elementary School, 20 Chase Drive.
Haldane
Haldane's $30.2 million proposal translates to 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. School 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 that taxes on a home valued at $500,000 will rise by $197 annually.
Board members Sean McNall and Ezra Clementson are running unopposed to retain their seats on the five-member school board. Clementson will seek his second, 3-year term and McNall his third term.
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Highlands Current Audio StoriesBy Highlands Current