Mahopac School Budget Fails; All Others Pass in Putnam

By Holly Crocco

The Mahopac Central School District was the only one in Putnam County to have its proposed 2025-26 budget voted down by residents during the May 20 vote and election.

The budget was defeated by a tally of 1,248 to 1,189.

The proposed $145 million spending plan represented a 1.89 percent budget-to-budget increase and came with a tax levy increase of 1 percent – which was more than $1 million below the state-mandated property tax cap.

The Mahopac School Board now as two options: it can adopt a contingency budget, or rework the budget and resubmit it to residents during another vote. If the second vote fails, the district will be forced to accept a contingency budget.

A contingency budget only consists of teachers’ salaries and “other contingent expenses” subject to a cap on the administrative portion of the budget, with no increase in the tax levy over the prior year. Contingency budgets usually exclude equipment, public use of school buildings and grounds, nonessential maintenance, capital expenditures and consultant services.  

Also shot down was a proposition to establish a capital reserve fund, by a vote of 1,223 to 1,200, which would have been used to fund districtwide improvements not to exceed $10 million over 10 years, with money transferred from current or future unassigned and unexpended fund balance and excess monies in the tax certiorari reserve fund.

A proposition to allow the district to purchase school buses was approved 1,246 to 1,190.

Elected to the school board were Kyle Potter with 1,759 votes, Lucy Massafra with 1,451 votes, and Nicole Iacono with 1,425 votes. Vincent Furfaro received 945 votes and incumbent Adam Savino received 876 votes.

The Carmel Central School District’s 2025-26 budget passed 1,290 to 1,113.

Elected to the school board were Nicholas Magliano with 1,390 votes, Frank Grasso with 1,250 votes, and Michael Torpey with 1,255 votes. Prakash Tewari received 1,059 votes and Nathaniel Query received 740 votes.

The Brewster Central School District’s 2025-26 budget passed by a vote of 713 to 381, and a proposition to transfer capital project funds passed 815 to 285.

Elected to the school board were Thomas Spadaccino with 789 votes and Louis Riolo Jr., with 868 votes.

The Putnam Valley Central School District’s 2025-26 budget passed by a vote of 1,235 to 952, as did a proposition approving a capital improvement project, by a vote of 1,272 to 911, and a proposition approving the library budget, by a vote of 1,268 to 906.

Re-elected to the school board were incumbents Sam Oliverio Jr., with 1,535 votes, and Janette Yetter with 1,354 votes.

The Garrison Union Free School District’s 2025-26 budget passed by a vote of 210 to 64, as did a proposition approving a term of instruction contract with Putnam Valley Central School District, by a vote of 232 to 41.

Re-elected to the school board were incumbents Sarah Tormey with 224 votes and Kent Schacht with 222 votes.

The Haldane Central School District’s 2025-26 budget passed by a vote of 474 to 125. Also passing were: a proposition approving the purchasing of school buses, by a vote of 476 to 120; a proposition approving capital reserve amendments, by a vote of 480 to 117; and a proposition approving the Butterfield Library budget, by a vote of 508 to 86.

Re-elected to the school board were incumbents Ezra Clementson and Sean McNall.