School budget passes with 57% support

The 579 Peekskill residents who turned out to vote on Tuesday approved the $72 million school budget for 2011-12 by a vote of 329 to 250, a 57% majority in favor of spending that will hike school property taxes by 3 percent.

“I would like to thank the community for coming out and exercising their right to vote and supporting the school budget,” said Board President Michael Simpkins. “It means a lot to the kids and to our school district. We are moving forward to continue to provide the best educational support for our kids here in Peekskill and we appreciate the community supporting us.

“It was a difficult task with the different restraints that we had putting this budget together. I want to applaud the administrators, Dr. Licopoli, the board members and everyone who provided the information that the board needed to put this budget together.”

Voters also approved a $3.165 million proposition to reconstruct the high school cafeteria and kitchen and other improvement to the district. Reserve funds and state aid will pay for the work.

Under New York state rules, had the budget been defeated, a contingent budget of $71.74 million could have been set into place. City taxpayers will supply $35 million for the school year with the balance coming primarily from state funding.

Two incumbent board members, Joe Urbanowicz and Doug Glickert, were reelected without opposition to serve three-year terms. The new board will select officers for 2011-12 in July.