Clarkstown Passes Budget; Board of Education Incumbents Re-Elected
Margin of Vote for Budget Almost Two to One.
Voters in the Clarkstown Central School District headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots almost 2-to-1 for passage of the $173.9 million budget for 2011-2012 and elected Joe Malgieri and Kevin Grogan to their second terms on the school board.
Karen Kasman was unsuccessful in her bid to unseat Grogan.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the district's $173,894,684 budget by 68.08% to 31.92%.
"I'm very, very grateful for the community's support for the budget," said schools Superintendent Margaret Keller-Cogan.
Several residents Patch spoke to on Tuesday said issues such as taxes and reinstatement of programs cut last year were important to them as they voted.
"I'm happy the taxes are minimally affected," said Jennifer Sweeney of West Nyack. "I'm happy some of the programs were brought back."
Incumbent school board members Joe Malgieri and Kevin Grogan were seeking second three-year terms. Former two-term board member Karen Kasman was looking to return after having served on the board from 2000-2006.
The winners Malgieri and Grogan garnered 41.71% and 33.51% percent of the vote respectively. Kasman received 24.78% of the votes.
Here's an overview of the election numbers.
Board of Education Candidates:
- Joe Malgieri received 3599 votes.
- Kevin Grogan received 2892 votes.
- Karen Kasman received 2138 votes.
Clarkstown Budget Vote:
- 3393 Yes votes
- 1591 No votes
- Total votes cast equaled 4984
Clarkstown's Budget by the Numbers:
- Budget carried a 2.3% tax levy
- Estimated to cost the owner of a home valued at $530,000 an additional $155 yearly
- Included funds for reinstating freshman sports and some modified sports programs
- Included funds for new buses and vans Included funds for a press box and bleachers at Clarkstown North High School
- Passed unanimously by the school board
- District's eight unions agreed to an 18-month salary freeze
The proposed budget is 3.77% higher than the current spending plan.
Over the past weekend and continuing on Monday, many Clarkstown residents received emails favoring one or more candidates and criticizing their challenger or challengers. Unauthorized messages were sent out Friday and Sunday to parents using more than one school district list. That led to a series of campaign emails distributed by candidates.
The superintendent's office is investigating the unauthorized emails.
CCSDrebel
11:38 am on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Now that the election is over, will the same 3 or 4 people who have been "stirring the pot" for the past 2-3 months go find a hobby. Thanks.
MitchP
12:46 pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Pot-stirring keeps things from sticking...and then cleaning up is a bigger job.
CCSDrebel
8:41 pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Well said. But the 3 or 4 or "stir the pot" always seem to leave someone else in charge of cleaning up their spillage.
Dzeldaz
6:32 am on Thursday, May 19, 2011
If there was no one to keep us on our toes, we would become complacent and that would be a shame. Throughout history, change usually occured when a pot-stirrer picked up a spoon. Sometimes the change was for good and sometimes it was not. That part was/is up to the masses. More people should read about, discuss and be educated on issues. Put a spoon in the pot! We need people with opinions who are not afraid to let those opinions be known and who will cause others to question and think.
By the way, I have no idea who these "pot-stirrers" are that you are talking about. I do know I am very concerned that some feel they have the right to take what is not theirs to achieve their goals - the district's email lists. Stir fairly and honestly!