School Board Proposal Defeated

The nays have it. The Putnam Valley Central School District's proposal to float a $14 million bond to finance its capital improvement plan was defeated by a vote of 666 to 624. Opponents waged a fierce campaign against the proposal in the Putnam Valley Voice Facebook group. The school district held various meetings and issued several printed communications to residents in its district, but it was not enough to overcome the apparent resistance.

The parents, teachers, staff and community members who formed the Facilities Planning Committee will now need to reconvene to decide if they want to modify their proposal or stick with their original plan. The Board of Education will ultimately decide whether to ask for another round of voting to be scheduled.

The proposal called for no additional taxes to be imposed. However, there could be financial consequences if a new plan is not pursued. According to the district: "If the decision is made to not propose another bond, some of the infrastructure work will still need to be completed (without the benefit of state aid), and the District would be forced to pay for these renovations out of the same budget that supports instructional programs and staff." Even if the board decides to ask for a second vote, whether for the same plan or a different one, the capital improvement projects at stake will likely be delayed by at least a year.

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