The Poughkeepsie City School District’s annual budget and Board of Election vote is less than a week away.
On Tuesday, May 19, polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at five district school buildings; early mail-in, absentee and military voting is already ongoing.
The district is proposing to residents a $156.91 million 2026-27 budget that maintains services, supports the landmark initiatives launched this year and does not exceed the tax cap. There is one additional proposition on the ballot and there are five candidates running for three Board of Election seats.
Poll locations are:
Wards 1, 3: Truth Elementary, 101 Mansion St.
Ward 5: Warring Elementary School, 283 Mansion St.
Wards 2, 4: Clinton Elementary, 100 Montgomery St.
Wards 6, 7: Poughkeepsie Middle School, 55 College Ave.
Ward 8: Krieger Elementary, 265 Hooker Ave. (Whittier Boulevard entrance)
The budget draft would be a 6.28% increase over this year’s spending plan and an increase in the tax levy by 4.21%. That equates to an increase of roughly $172 for the year for the average property. Actual tax increase depends on New York State equalization rates.
The district arrived at its proposal after reviewing staffing salaries and benefit costs, class sizes, program needs and departmental budgets, debt service, and revenue and expenditure predictions. Challenges to keeping the plan under the tax cap included the rising expenses for essential needs that everyone is currently feeling, increases in fixed costs, and the cost of maintaining several programs that saw grants and other short-term aid expire.
To balance the budget, the district will use $7 million in restricted fund balance and $2 million in unrestricted fund balance. The district remains with roughly $37.4 million in combined fund balance.
The district in the past year launched school bus service at all elementary buildings, reconfigured each elementary building to more effectively group students and maximize resources, opened six innovation lab spaces with lab managers and expanded on such elements as after-school learning, field trips and early college programs.
To balance the budget, the district will use $7 million in restricted fund balance and $2 million in unrestricted fund balance. The district remains with roughly $37.4 million in combined fund balance.
The district in the past year launched school bus service at all elementary buildings, reconfigured each elementary building to more effectively group students and maximize resources, opened six innovation lab spaces with lab managers and expanded on such elements as after-school learning, field trips and early college programs.
The 2026-27 budget proposal would allow the district to continue that momentum, providing programs and services to support all ages.
No jobs would be eliminated in the budget plan and no program would be ended for economic reasons. However, the district will continue evaluating each of its programs to focus on those that are the most needed and effective, and may engage in resource reallocation.
Proposition 2
Proposition 2 asks residents to allow the district to establish the “2026 Capital Reserve Fund,” a source of funding for the district to undertake general capital improvements, as-needed, outside of the specific projects formally approved by residents through resolutions. The fund would have a maximum total of $20 million, to be raised through various sources that include, but are not limited to, state aid reimbursement, cost saving measures resulting in unexpended funds or fund balance, or other legally available funds of the district.
The district would not level any additional taxes on residents to specifically fill this fund, but the fund would allow the district more flexibility in utilizing unexpected funding sources as they become available.
Board of Education election
Three seats on the board are open. The term being served by President Bob Creedon is expiring June 30. Naomi Flinchum-Marquez and Jamar Cummings were appointed by the board in the fall through the end of this academic year to fill two vacated terms previously served by Hon. Thomas O’Neill (whose term expires June 30) and Kelleyanne Royce-Giron (whose term will expire June 30, 2027).
Accordingly, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the election will serve three year-terms beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2029. The candidate who places third will serve the remainder of Royce-Giron’s term, ending June 30, 2027.
Cummings is running to be elected and remain on the board. Other candidates, in alphabetical order, include Richard Distel, Debra Long, Stacey MacDonald and Gregory “Tron” Melton. Each has been asked to respond to a questionnaire; responses will be available at https://poughkeepsieschools.org/boe-candidates