In the past year, the Poughkeepsie City School District has instituted bus service for elementary students, reorganized its elementary buildings, opened innovation labs and reinforced its emphasis on field trips, post-graduate readiness and other areas through increased funding.

On Tuesday, City of Poughkeepsie residents approved a $156.91 million 2026-27 budget that will allow the district to continue its trajectory while maintaining staffing, programs and services for students of all grade levels.

Residents also approved a proposition to allow for the creation of the “2026 Capital Reserve Fund” and elected three members of the Board of Education.

“We want to thank residents for their support of this budget proposal and their faith in the direction our district is moving,” Superintendent of Schools Gregory Mott said. “We believe the programs and services we have in place are effectively supporting student success and increasing positive educational outcomes. This budget will allow us to continue building on that work.”

The budget, a $156,908,757 spending plan, was approved 461 votes to 167. Proposition 2 to establish the capital reserve fund was endorsed by voters 500 to 127. 

Jamar Cummings, Stacey MacDonald and Richard Distel were each elected to the Board of Education. Cummings, an incumbent appointed by the Board members in the fall, and MacDonald will each serve full three-year terms beginning July 1 as the top two recipients of votes; Distel will serve the remaining one year on the term vacated by Kelleyanne Royce-Giron, and can run for reelection to a full term next May.

The budget proposal did not exceed the state’s tax cap. It represents a 6.28% increase over this year’s spending plan and an increase in the tax levy by 4.21%. Actual tax increase depends on New York State equalization rates. 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 “2026 Capital Reserve Fund” is 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 has 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 will not level any additional taxes on residents to specifically fill this fund.

The Board of Education voted to accept the results Tuesday night. The Board’s new members are scheduled to be sworn in on July 1 at its organizational meeting.