Schools

Chappaqua School Budget Passes, Mester & Katchis Win BOE Election

Library budget also passes, Friedman wins spot on library board.

Voters in the Chappaqua Central School District gave their approval Tuesday to the 2010-11 budget. According to the count, 1,044 (about 58 percent) voted in favor, while 753 (almost 42 percent) voted against.

Board of Education President Jeffrey Mester was reelected for another term, receiving 903 votes. Randall Katchis will join him as the board's newest member, receiving 914 votes. The other two candidates, Amy Ansehl and Nona Ullman, got 750 and 697 votes, respectively. 

"Well I'm very excited to be, obviously very happy to be reelected for another term," Mester said, adding the need to take that message.

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Mester also gave his reaction to the budget being passed.

"We certainly take it as we're on the right path, although it is also a heads up that future budgets will not be easy," he said.  

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Katchis was glad to be elected but emphasized the work ahead.

"Well, you know, I'm thankful for those people who supported me, but certainly there's no celebration or congratulations yet until we actually try to do what we think we can do," he said, naming having a new superintendent and successful union contract negotiations in three years as priorities. 

"When that all happens, then we have something to celebrate," he said. "Until then it's just hard work, but I'm happy to be a part of it"

Ullman was thankful for the support she received, while congratulating her opponents. 

"Just thank you to the 691 people [referring to the initial vote total] who voted for me and put their faith in me, and I wish the election would have turned out differently, but hopefully I can still contribute to improving our school system other ways," she said. "But it was a great process, and I enjoyed running and I think the people that won will do a great job and I wish them the best of luck."

The budget passed is $109,391,348 with a 1.9 percent spending increase and a tentative 2.32 percent tax levy for the overall district. New Castle residents will see a tentative 2.38 percent tax rate increase of $1,000 per assessed valuation, while Mount Pleasant residents in the district will see 12.31 for the same category due to a difference in the equalization rate used. The budget will also reduce a little over 10 positions, including nearly seven teaching positions. It should be noted, however, that final tax rate numbers will be until August because that is when assessments for the two district towns will be finalized.

The Chappaqua Library's budget also passed, receiving 1,191 in favor (nearly 67 percent) and 587 against (about 33 percent). Eleanor Friedman won the race for the Board of Trustees, receiving 736 votes. Her opponent, Caren Raylesberg got 522 votes.

"I'm very excited. I'm really enthusiastic about being with the library trustees, so I'm really happy with the outcome," Friedman said.

The library's budget that passed is more than $2.7 million and will see a 1.86 percent tax rate increase for New Castle residents and a 11.97 percent increase for Mount Pleasant residents in the Chappaqua school district.

The vote tallies for the election do not include 15 affidavit ballots, according to District Clerk Theresa Markley, who sent the figures. However, they are not enough to change the overall course of the results.


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