See school election results for Westchester, Rockland, Putnam. Three budgets were defeated

Most school budget proposals in the Lower Hudson Valley were easily passed by voters Tuesday, but three spending plans got rejected.

East Ramapo, which has seen more budget defeats than any district in New York over the last decade, saw its 2023-24 spending plan go down by a mere 45 votes − 1,896-1,851. The district proposed a spending increase of 16.48% but a tax levy increase of only 1.99%.

Elmsford's proposed $43.3 million budget, which would have raised spending by 8.95% and the tax levy by 5.48%, was resoundingly defeated by voters, 552-328. A proposition to increase the district's capital reserve fund was also rejected.

Blind Brook was one of only 16 districts in New York, out of 668 holding budget votes, seeking to override its property tax levy cap, meaning it needed a supermajority of 60%. But the district's $57 million budget plan, which would have raised spending by 9.88% and the tax levy by 10.85%, only received the support of 55% of voters.

Those districts will have to put second budget proposals before voters or adopt contingency budgets, which require freezing the tax levy at this year's level. Most districts that lose a budget vote try proposing a second, more modest spending plan.

This year's election came as districts continue to face residual academic, behavioral and mental health challenges from the pandemic.

Districts in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam will face a range of different financial situations in the 2023-24 school year. Some will see major increases in state aid and some will still have ample amounts of federal pandemic relief money on hand.

More: School budgets: 7 Lower Hudson districts propose tax levy freeze; 1 seeks to override cap

More: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam superintendents are on the move. Here's where they're going

More: Obama names Yonkers a model community for its My Brother's Keeper program

Here are the results from districts in those three counties, excluding Yonkers, which as a "Big 5" city district does not have a public vote on its budget:

Westchester

Ardsley: Budget passed, 484-166. Elected to the school board were incumbent Mitchell Kleinman with 542 votes and Stella Urban with 494.

Bedford: Budget passed, 1,804-776. Elected to the school board were newcomers Betsy Sharma with 1,537 votes and Kristine Stoker with 1,508.

Blind Brook: Budget failed. The vote was 385-314 in favor of the budget (55%), but a 60% supermajority was needed to override the district’s tax cap. A proposition to lease/purchase two school buses passed, 438-253. A proposition regarding a capital reserve fund/bus fleet passed, 416-275; a proposition regarding a capital reserve fund/capital reserve passed 424-265. Elected to the school board: Danny Fung: 554 votes; Katherine Hallissy Ayala: 550.

Briarcliff Manor: Budget passed, 356-75. Board member Tony Sammi was re-elected unopposed.

Bronxville: Budget passed, 799-174. A capital reserve fund proposition passed, 780-166. A proposition to conduct board elections on an at-large basis passed, 698-283. Christina Skinner is elected with 524 votes and Sara Kenny is elected with 830.

Byram Hills: Budget passed, 355-61. Lori Kanner and Lara Stangel were both re-elected with 362 and 367 votes respectively.

Chappaqua: Budget passed, 1,431-394. Alissa Dorfman was elected to the school board with 1,138 votes and Matthew Auerbach with 923.

Croton-Harmon: Budget passed, 748-138. Elected to the school board were Anamkia Bhatnagar, and incumbents Sarah Carrier and Neal Haber.

Dobbs Ferry: Budget passed, 762-291. Newcomers Pavithra Nagarajan and Rebecca Hershberg were elected to the school board with 818 and 792 votes, respectively.

Eastchester: Budget passed, 833-567. Jill Cosentino, incumbent Robert Krukoswki, and Sean Fellin were elected to the school board.

Edgemont: Budget passed, 228-46. Voters approved the creation of a capital reserve fund for future infrastructure projects, 225-50. Elected to the school board were incumbent Jennifer DeMarrais with 241 votes and Heather Stern with 240.

Elmsford: Budget failed, 328-552. A proposition to amend the capital reserve failed, 546-309. John Hecht was elected to the school board starting July 1 with 499 votes. David Hecht was elected to fill an unexpired two-year term with 497 votes. Alfredo Lezama was elected to fill an unexpired one-year term with 473 votes.

Greenburgh: Budget passed, 371-141.

Harrison: Budget passed, 918-213. A capital reserve proposition passed, 902-201. Ben Blaustein and incumbents Robert Sullivan Jr. and Mulvoy Mangon were elected to the school board.

Hastings-on-Hudson: Budget passed, 1,262-330. Elected to the school board were Theresa McCaffrey with 816 votes and Jodie Meyer with 746.

Hendrick Hudson: Budget and propositions passed. Amelia Silverman was elected to the school board with 854 votes and Tomica Dietrich with 745.

Irvington: Budget passed, 466-127. Capital project proposition passed, 479-113. Incumbent Brian Friedman was re-elected with 469 votes, Jayne Wissner was re-elected with 467, and Dympna Kenny was elected with 499.

Katonah-Lewisboro: Budget passed, 2,049-1,215. Proposition 2 (buses) passed, 1,944-1,318. Elected to the school board were newcomers Lorraine Gallagher with 2,146 votes and Bill Swertfager with 2,125.

Lakeland: Budget passed, 943-306. A vehicle purchase proposition passed, 959-286. Elected to the school board: incumbent Donald Pinkowsky, 841 votes; and newcomers Christopher Eustace, 809; and Bryan Hoben, 664.

Mamaroneck: Budget passed, 853-171. Two other propositions passed. Newly elected to the school board were Michele Metsch and David Mendes Carlos.

Mount Pleasant: Budget passed, 576-143. Sara Beaty was re-elected with 513 votes and Laura Michalec Olszewski was re-elected with 500.

Mount Vernon: Budget passed, 1,091-522. The district said it will release school board results after absentee ballots are counted.

New Rochelle: Budget passed, 1913-700. Makeda Lewis was elected for a five-year term with 1,682 votes and Don Vega was elected to fill a vacant seat on the board with 1,482 votes.

North Salem: Budget passed, 583-186. A safety and security proposition passed, 574-197. Elected to the school board: former board member Carolyn Aversano, 544; and incumbent Kurt Gulden, 481.

Ossining: Budget approved, 1,394-334. A proposition authorizing expenditures from a capital reserve fund was approved, 1,441-266. Elected to the school board: Rob Melstein with 1,216 votes, incumbent Frank Schnecker with 1,105 and Annie Gomez with 1,006.

Peekskill: Budget passed, 321-113. Elected to the school board were incumbent Branwen MacDonald with 349 votes and Amy Vele with 333.

Pelham: Budget passed, 1,261-534. Elected to the school board were Annemarie Garcia with 1,029 votes and Sid Burke with 931.

Pleasantville: Budget passed, 513-76. Elected to the school board: Lucas Cascardo with 486 votes and John Vamossy with 477.

Pocantico Hills: Budget passed, 81-17. Both capital project propositions passed, 84-14 and 83-15. Kristen Kumar was re-elected to the school board with 81 votes, as was Alfred Pacile with 85.

Port Chester: Budget passed, 1,161-421. Elected to the school board were incumbent George Ford Jr. and Roberto Dominguez.

Rye: Budget passed, 686-164. Shaun Kloepfer was elected with 669 votes and Tom Stein was re-elected with 677 votes.

Rye Neck: Budget passed 637-132. Jason Carmel and Erica Wagner were elected to the school board.

Scarsdale: Budget passed, 555-91. A bond proposition for the renovation of Scarsdale High School auditorium passed, 536-108. Amber Yusuf was re-elected with 571 votes and Robert Klein was re-elected with 559 votes.

Somers: Budget passed, 2,126-1,322. A capital reserve fund proposition passed, 2,156-1,288. Elected to the school board were newcomers Dominick DeMartino with 1,828 votes and Patrick Varbero with 1,770 votes.

Tarrytowns: Budget passed, 459-106. Also approved: a proposition authorizing transportation expenses for students living in a "Child Safety Zone." Incumbents John Paine and Deborah Taylor were re-elected to the school board.

Tuckahoe: Budget passed, 676-249. Elected to the school board: Scott Bogetti with 481 votes and Peter Casson with 466.

Valhalla: Budget passed, 319-106. Proposition to renovate Valhalla MS/HS art rooms passes, 332-100. Two board members were re-elected: Susan Martinez with 369 votes and Duane Smith with 337.

White Plains: Budget passed, 1,020-136. Proposition regarding use of capital reserve fund passed, 1,003-132. Incumbent board member Rosemarie Eller was re-elected and newcomer Valerie Daniele elected.

Yorktown: Budget passed, 1,151-289. Michael Magnani was re-elected with 784 votes and Catalina Tyndal was elected with 740.

Rockland

Clarkstown: Budget passed, 2,366-666. Proposition 2, regarding funding projects such as renovations to the parking lot and basketball court at Clarkstown High School North, passed 2,493-509. David Gosman and Zizette Deutsch were re-elected to the school board.

East Ramapo: Budget defeated, 1,896-1,851. In school board races, Sherry McGill was elected in Ward 3, Simon Koth was re-elected in Ward 5, and Moshe Samuel Feder was elected in Ward 8.

Nanuet: Budget passed ,1,219-202. Incumbents Lynn Fahmi, Edward Dingman and Anne Byrne were re-elected with 1,300, 1,314, and 1,338 votes respectively.

North Rockland: Budget passed, 2,978-744. Proposition 2, regarding fund repairs passed 3,058-549. Re-elected to the school board were incumbents Deborah Gatti with 3,585 votes, James Kraus with 2,523 votes and Peggy Zugibe with 3,660 votes.

Nyack: Budget passed, 1,834-328. A proposition on using capital reserve funds passed, 1,828-273. Elected to the school board: incumbent Jennifer Marraccino with 1239 votes, Jessica Goodman with 1181, and Benny Vasquez with 1092.

Pearl River: Budget passed, 869-365. A capital reserve fund proposition passed 900-357. Kathleen Ann Kelley was elected with 1,023 votes.

South Orangetown: Budget passed, 2,106-895. Katie Gravino was elected with 1,534 votes and Diana Korabel with 1,543.

Suffern: Budget passed, 2,971-733. Proposition 2 passes, 3,068-606. Elected to the school board were Thomas Donnolly with 3206 votes and incumbent Paul Shapiro with 2974.

Putnam

Brewster: Budget passed, 826-525. Kerry Cunningham was re-elected with 742 votes and Melissa Stasi Finateri was elected with 589.

Carmel: Budget passed, 1,729-1,627. A water tank proposition passed, 2,461-881. An intercom/phone system proposition passed, 2,135-1,205. Elected to the school board were newcomers Jordi Douglas with 2,174 votes and James Wise with 1,500.

Garrison: Budget passed, 281-94. Proposition for use of capital reserve funds passed, 334-41. Proposition authorizing the entering into a term of instruction passed, 290-85. Elected to the school board: Dan Jasnow with 285 votes; incumbent Jocelyn Apicello with 275, and Jennifer Harriton-Wilson with 268.

Haldane: Budget passed, 449-67. Proposition 2, $183,000 for school vehicles passed, 440-75. Margaret (Peggy) Clements is elected with 456 votes.

Mahopac: Budget passed, 1,294-1,105. A proposition regarding purchasing buses also passed, 1,384-1,006. Tanner McCracken was re-elected with 1,734 votes, as was Ben DiLullo with 1,422. Michael Mongon, who previously served on the board, was also elected with 1,268 votes.

Putnam Valley: Budget passed, 785-658. A proposition for the purchase of school buses passed, 782-653. Elected to the school board was newcomer Crystal Hernandez with 790 votes.

Contact Diana Dombrowski at ddombrowski@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @domdomdiana.

Gary Stern is an editor/writer covering K-12 education in the Hudson Valley. Reach him at gstern@lohud.com. Twitter: @garysternNY. Click here for his latest.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: school election results westchester rockland putnam budgets