School election results for Westchester, Rockland, Putnam: check your district

With all school district election results in Tuesday night for the Lower Hudson Valley, voters had rejected two districts' budget and one high-profile proposition.

Chappaqua voters overwhelmingly defeated the district's proposed budget, which would have raised its tax levy by 2.99%.

East Ramapo's budget plan, which would have increased the tax levy by 1.99%, was also rejected,1,917-1,519. Since the state's property tax levy cap went into effect in 2012, East Ramapo has had by far the most budget defeats among New York's nearly 700 school districts.

And Edgemont voters narrowly rejected a $66.8 million capital improvements bond.

More: 6 key takeaways from school elections -- from budget defeats to a school board race's tie

Voters decided on school district budgets, propositions and school board races during a budget season that had districts facing inflation, limited increases in state "foundation aid" and waning pandemic relief money.

Unofficial results are listed below for school districts in Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.

Chappaqua and East Ramapo can put forth a second proposal, with or without changes, on June 18. Districts that lose two budget votes must adopt a state-imposed contingency budget, which would freeze the tax levy at this year's amount.

Thirteen districts proposed tax levy increases below 2%, the cap the state starts with for 2024-25. Each district's final cap ends up being higher or lower depending on a number of factors. Thirty-two districts proposed increases between 2% and 4%. Seven districts proposed increases between 4% and 5%.

The highest proposed tax-levy increase, in percentage terms, was Rye's 6.55%. Rye was one of four districts across the three counties proposing to break their tax caps, along with Chappaqua, Harrison and Scarsdale.

Rye, Harrison and Scarsdale got more than 60% approval from voters, required to pass a budget that breaks their tax cap.

Chappaqua's budget plan, though, got slammed by voters, not even coming close to a simple majority. Voters defeated the spending plan 2,006-1,128.

Three districts didn't propose any increase to their tax levies: Carmel, Mount Vernon and North Rockland.

With a history of rejecting budget plans that hike the tax levy even by a fraction, East Ramapo’s voters this year rejected a budget that would have increased the tax levy by 1.99%, the same percent increase that voters narrowly rejected last year. This year's $331.9 million budget plan would have tapped nearly $20 million from reserves. Affidavit ballots still had to be counted. There was no word Tuesday night if a re-vote would be considered.

East Ramapo, facing a fiscal cliff, is asking the state to give it a "spin up," basically a way to tap future aid early. With local support lagging, it makes the move more unlikely.

The average proposed spending increase in 53 districts across Putnam, Westchester and Rockland was a little over 4%.

Last year, Blind Brook and East Ramapo saw their first spending plans rejected before voters approved their second proposals. East Ramapo voters subsequently passed a budget with no increase in the tax levy. Elmsford has had to operate on a contingency budget this year after voters rejected both of the district's proposed budgets.

Budgets by the numbers: Check your district's proposed spending, tax levy increase

Here are the unofficial results for Westchester, Rockland and Putnam county school districts as they come in. As a "big 5" school district, the Yonkers district doesn't have a public vote on its budget.

Westchester

Ardsley: Budget passed 890-358. A capital bond project passed 821-429. Incumbent Vikas Agrawal was re-elected to the school board with 751 votes. Michelle Spiniello got 465 votes.

Bedford: Budget passed 798-293. Elected to the school board were: Lisa Mitchell, 867 votes, and Steve Matlin, 688.

Blind Brook: Budget passed 844-197. Two propositions also passed. One was for the lease or purchase of a new school bus (820-221) and the other for authorizing an expenditure for the capital reserve fund (861-180).

Briarcliff Manor: Budget passed 479-91. A proposition on energy conservation improvements passed 509-56. Rajneesh Chandra (385) and Sarah Zonenshine (349) won two open school board seats. Ryan Seaforth got 233 votes.

Bronxville: Budget passed 303-57. A proposition to extend funds held in an existing capital reserve fund passed 324-37. Winning two seats on the school board were Susan Conniff with 318 votes and Miki Kapoor with 294.

Byram Hills: Budget passed 1,018-161. The Lights, Learning, Action proposition passed 1,018-62. Scott Levy (1,003) and Petrie Verma (816) won the two school board seats. Diana Barrara Torre got 352 votes.

Chappaqua: Budget failed 2,006 to 1,128. Cailee Hwang, with 1,586 votes, won a trustee seat. Timmothy McNamara got 1,006 votes; Kimberly Carey got 425 votes.

Croton-Harmon: Budget passed 522-92. Voters also approved three propositions: one for the purchase of and repair of vehicles, one for a $250,000 deposit into the Repair Reserve Fund, and another for the Croton Free Library.

Dobbs Ferry: Budget passed 382-122. Incumbents Penny Sullivan-Nunes (411 votes) and Brooke Bass (406) ran unopposed and were re-elected.

Eastchester: Budget passed 1,222-754. Elected to the school board: Christina Geagan (1,032), Christie McCloskey (1,013) and Jackie DiMarco (1,043). Kathryn Weiss received 925 votes, Jessica Beach 901 and Lorraine De La Parra 883.

Edgemont: Budget passed 915-402. A proposition was defeated, 671-645, for a $66.8 million capital improvements bond. Elected to the school board were Ami Patel Song (1,027 votes) and Josefine Teneback Cays (979 votes).

Elmsford: Budget passed 607-293. A proposition to expand a capital reserve fund passed 664-225. A proposition to establish a capital reserve fund passed 651-235. A proposition to deposit in a repair reserve passed 665-218. Elected to the school board: Incumbent Alfredo Lezama, 506 votes, and incumbent Justin Datino, 495 votes. Also running were Adrian Rogers, 395 votes, and Roger Robinson, 385 votes.

Greenburgh: Budget passed 630-180. Three open school board seats were filled by Adonia Manns (459), Rebeca Sampelayo (489) and Chris Valin (513). Christopher Macaluso got 242 votes and Kiana Washington 443.

Harrison: Budget passed 1,129-554, getting over 60% support, necessary to approve breaking the district's property-tax cap. Incumbent Kelly Kozak was re-elected with 1,046 votes, and Jerome Valenti was elected with 1,020 votes.

Hastings-on-Hudson: Budget passed 1,206-313. Catherine DiMartino (1,234), Alexander Dal Piaz (1,003) and David Barone (844) won three seats on the school board. Doreen Bucher got 728 votes.

Hendrick Hudson: Budget passed 1,244-393, along with four propositions: Capital Improvement Bond Project, 1,139-490; the creation of the Energy System Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund, 1,213-406; school buses, vans, vehicle and related equipment, 1,255-378; and Hendrick Hudson Free Library budget, 1,321-322. Lauren Stanco and Cori Boudin were elected to the school board with 818 and 741 votes respectively. Devys Rivera got 730 votes, Christine Jacknick got 726 votes and Joseph Mintz 83.

Irvington: Budget passed 389-103. Incumbents Susan Brunenavs (427) and Beth Propper (434) will keep the two open school board seats.

Katonah-Lewisboro: Budget passes 1,179-517. Two vehicle replacement propositions passed 1,223-473 and 1,240-459. Another proposition to apply for an Inflation Reduction Act Rebate to a bond project passed 1,353-343. Barbara Williams received 1,149 votes. Marjorie Schiff received 1,115. Both were elected to full three-year terms. Jon Poffenberger received 816 and was elected to the remaining year of a vacated term. Matthew Goglia got 762 votes and Peter Petraro got 446.

Lakeland: The budget passed 779-299. A vehicle bond proposition passed 745-329. Elected to the school board were Anna Massaro, with 758 votes, Mike Daley with 735 and Becky Burfeind with 708. Tracy Sadler Hormazabal got 522.

Mamaroneck: Budget passed 1,694-248. Voters approved the capital bond 1,193-198. Ariana Cohen, Sally Cantwell and Michael Davidson were elected to the school board with 1,294, 1,306 and 1,285 votes respectively.

Mount Pleasant: Budget passed 425-160. Winning uncontested terms on the school board were Michael Horan, with 473 votes, Michael Griffin, 467, and Colleen Scaglione Neglia, 463.

Mount Vernon: Budget passed 1,164-483. Three people were elected to the school board and the vote tally for a fourth open seat was too close to call, the district said. Elected were: Donna Marable, 1,175 votes, Wanda White, 1,119 votes, Christopher McDonough, 1,029 votes, and Helene Thompson-Njenga, 956 votes. Cynthia Crenshaw got 869 votes and Erica Peterson 735 votes.

New Rochelle: Budget passed 2,458-1,309. Voters also approved two propositions: one to spend $10 million from the capital reserve fund to renovate the high school pool and on other upgrades in the district's other schools, and another to create a $50 million fund for facilities improvement and renovations.

North Salem: Budget passed 378-159. Two school board seats were filled by Elizabeth Bridges (Grob) with 402 votes and Elizabeth Malvino with 300 votes. Paul Giamundo got 276 votes. A proposition to bond a renovation of a water filtration plant passed 429-106. A proposition to purchase vehicles passed 381-156.

Ossining: Budget passed, 980-314. Proposition passed 1,049-243 to spend reserves for capital projects. Katherin Crossling, with 925 votes, and Roger Battacharia, with 884 votes, won seats on the board.

Peekskill: The budget passed 317-64. A proposition to establish a capital reserve fund passed 339-43. Elected to the school board were Christina Washington, 315 votes, and Allen Jenkins Jr., 310 votes.

Pelham: The budget passed 1,549-445. A proposition to expend from a capital reserve passed 1,566-420. Elected to fill two open seats on the school board were Kathryn Cohen, 1,138 votes, and Darra B. Gordon, 1,130 votes. Also running were Ian Rowe, 895, and Michael Owen-Michaane, 808.

Pleasantville: Pleasantville: Budget passed 452-77. School board President Michael Busch was re-elected with 441 votes and first-time candidate Loredana Coughlan was elected with 412 votes.

Pocantico Hills: Budget passed 157-37. Brian Geary won one open seat on the school board with 129 votes. Scott Graves got 60 votes.

Port Chester: Budget passed 493-282. Incumbent Sharon Burke and JoAnne Ferrara were elected to the school board. They received 553 and 569 votes respectively.

Rye: The budget passed 969-383, getting the support of more than 60% of voters. The district needed that "super-majority" since it was seeking to break its property tax levy cap. Three candidates won seats on the school board: Callie Erickson, with 1130 votes, Valerie Lapham, 1072, and Matthew (Matt) Schibanoff, 1041.

Rye Neck: Budget passed 690-145. A proposition for use of the 2022 capital reserve fund passed 737-101. Nikki Barker was elected to the school board with 628 votes. Additionally, there was a tie between Halli Gatenio and Martin O’Reilly for a second seat. Both got 429 votes. "The District is consulting with its legal counsel to determine next steps," said a statement from the district. "We will communicate more information in the coming days."

Scarsdale: The budget passed 1,185-558, getting more than 60% support, necessary for the district to break its property tax levy cap. James Dugan was re-elected with 1420 votes and Leah Dembitzer was elected with 1,441 votes.

Somers: Budget passed 1,902-774. Daryl Mundis and Margaret DiLorenzo were elected to the school board.

Tarrytowns: Budget passed 457-93. Re-elected to the school board were Krista Barron, Cecelia Gordon, and Michelle DeFilippis.

Tuckahoe: Budget passed 610-236. Allison Halloran was elected to the school board.

Valhalla: Budget passed 537-240. Elected to the school board were: Kristin Dragone, Eric Lederer and Jennifer Orr-Engelman.

White Plains: Budget passed 1,844-307. Craig Mondschein 1,331, Jessica Buck 1,371 and incumbent Cayne Letizia 1,220 were elected to the school board. The five other candidates were: Donna Giambalvo (235); incumbent Rose Lovitch (479); Ferenc Tasnady (340); Vincent Orlando (459) and Leslie Hickey (536).

Yorktown: Budget passed 492-122. Two vacancies on the school board were filled by Peter Bisaccia (525) and Jackie Carbone (522).

Rockland

Clarkstown: Budget passed, 4,234-1,623. Proposition 2 passed 4,611-1,218. Three elected to the school board are: Tamara Bierker with 3,440 votes; Jason Bass with 3,250 votes; and Yelena Glukhova with 3,113 votes. Irene Tagaris got 2,337 votes, Christine Alia got 2,301 votes and Dana Gropper got 2,256 votes.

East Ramapo: Budget failed 1,917-1,519. Trustees are selected by ward: Eric Young-Mercer won with 278votes in Ward 1, and there were 21 write-ins; incumbent Shimon Rose won with 219 votes in Ward 4, and there were 56 write-ins; and Moses Koth won in Ward 7 with 86 votes, and there were 8 write-in votes.

Nanuet: Budget passed 683-180. Elected to four open seats on the school board: Christine Camillieri, 646 votes, and Stephanie A. Lee, 599 votes, to three-year terms; Raymondo E. Pappalardi, 528 votes, to a two-year term; and Geoff Gaiss, 463 votes, to a one-year term.

North Rockland: Budget passed 1,451-376. Proposition 2 passed 1,426-397. Richard Fernandez, with 1,528 votes and Mary Romano, with 1,512 votes, were re-elected to the school board; Kimberly Von Hein got 390 votes and Joseph Call got 317 votes.

Nyack: Budget passed, 1,221-291; Proposition 2 passed 1,372-229; Proposition 3 passed 1,305-228. Elaine Philhower, with 935 votes and Bryan Burrell, with 672 votes, won seats on the board. Violet Merjanian had 624 votes; Scott Nappi had 337 votes; there were 468 write-in votes.

Pearl River: Budget passed 641-175. Incumbents Jackie Dubil Craig, with 690 votes, and Thomas DePrisco with 697 votes, were re-elected.

South Orangetown: Budget passed 1,648-556. Proposition 2 to establish a capital reserve fund and Proposition 3 to replace boilers at Tappan Zee High School, passed 1,628-558 and 1,782-411 respectively. Dawn Kitz, with 1,065 votes, was elected to the board. Jenny Liz Sanchez got 1,039 votes and Marissa Squitieri got 124 votes.

Suffern: Budget passed with 2,718 votes. Three incumbents were re-elected to the school board: Jennifer Hodge (2,674), Marlo Dickman (2,506) and Darrell Frasier (2,340).

Putnam

Brewster: Budget passed 678-394. Cynthia MacGregor Fox got 812 votes, Scott Seaman got 601 and Jennifer Carpiniello got 581, filling the three vacant school board seats. Corey Hart got 580 votes.

Carmel: Budget passed 1,900-1,341. A proposition for a safety and security bond passed 1,768-1,458. John C. Curzio II and Melissa Orser were elected to the school board with 2,327 and 2,134 votes respectively. Roshan Bhojwani got 991 votes.

Garrison: The budget passed 190-55. A proposition to contract with the Haldane school district passed 235-9. A proposition to contract with the Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery district passed 222-23. A proposition authorizing continuous voter registration passed 215-26. Board of education results: Peter Lesser, 194 votes, Jennifer Harriton-Wilson, 193 votes, and Eric Arnold. Total Votes, 190 votes.

Haldane: Budget passed, 336-112; Proposition 2 passed, 342-106; Proposition 3 passed 322-125. Michelle Kupper, with 370 votes and Mary (Maggie) Valentine, with 379 votes, were elected trustees.

Mahopac: Budget passed 1,161-921. A proposition for the purchase of school buses passed 1,232-844. A proposition to establish a capital reserve fund passed 1,233-846. Elected to three open seats on the school board were Jennifer Travis, 1,050 votes, Lisa Carway, 1,038 votes, and Christopher Harrigan, 976 votes. Other results: Lucy Massafra, 946, Sharae Nix, 932, and Noelle Harrison, 816.

Putnam Valley: Budget passed 750-608. A proposition to purchase school buses passed 763-593. A proposition to establish a capital reserve fund passed 766-588. Winning two opens seats on the school board were Barbara J. Parmly, 849 votes, and Alexandra (Sasha) Hayes, 720 votes. Also running were Maranda E. Zocchi, 485, and Zayd M. Eljamal, 342.

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

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam 2024 school election results, budgets