Residents of the Schodack Central School District voted to approve a $28,020,109 budget for the 2023-2024 School Year by a vote of 501 (YES) to 229 (NO).

This budget represents a $1,128,556 increase from the 2022-2023 School Year. The estimated tax levy increase for the 2023-2024 Budget is 2.90%, which is below the allowable tax levy limit set by New York State.

Additionally, voters approved the purchase of 2 additional school buses for the district by a vote of 557 (YES) to 170 (NO) and approved a non-voting student representative on the board of education by a vote of 597 (YES) to 133 (NO).

Also on the ballot, separate from the district’s budget vote, was a Castleton Public Library funding proposition which voters approved by a vote of 444 (YES) to 288 (NO). The public library funding proposition language on today’s ballot is available here.

Residents also elected Blake Kush, Mary Yurista and Shelley Palmer to the three seats opening on the Schodack Board of Education. Each seat is for a 3-year term (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2026). Vote counts and candidate names are below in the order they appeared on the ballot:

Blake Kush: 443

Mary Yurista: 466

Shelley Palmer: 507

Ashley Palmer: 417

The district thanks all the residents who participated in this year’s budget vote and board election.