Webutuck Central School District voters said yes to propositions for the 2024-2025 school budget, the purchase of transportation vehicles and using money in the capital reserve fund to install air conditioning in the intermediate and high schools.

The budget passed with 155 yes votes and 54 no votes. Purchasing transportation vehicles was approved by a 153-56 margin, and voters supported the use of capital reserve fund money, 157-52.

Voters also re-elected Joanne Boyd, who serves as school board vice president, and elected Amanda Gallagher to three-year terms on the school board.

 “I’d like to thank the community for supporting our students and our school district,” said Superintendent of Schools Raymond Castellani. “Their continued support through the years helps make a difference in the success of our students and their futures.”

The approved budget is a 4.16 percent increase over the 2023-2024 school year. A 4.46 percent tax levy increase will qualify homeowners to be eligible for the New York State Property Tax Relief Reimbursement (STAR program).

Voters also approved propositions to purchase transportation vehicles at a cost not to exceed $222,238 and to use a sum not to exceed $4.5 million from the capital reserve fund to install air conditioning in the classrooms at Eugene Brooks Intermediate School and Webutuck High School.

The district will purchase two 2024 Chevy Type A 20-passenger school buses and one 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 transportation vehicle.

The air conditioning will be installed for the start of the 2025-2026 school year and will come at no additional cost to taxpayers as the money will be used from the district’s capital reserve fund, which is much like a savings account for the district.

Air conditioning is being installed this summer in the elementary school as part of the $12.5 million capital improvement project that voters approved in December 2022.