Brewster Central School District Budget Passes 673 to 446

BREWSTER, NY — Brewster Central School District residents approved a 2021-22 school budget on Tuesday.

The $104,903,457 proposed budget was approved with 60.14 percent of the vote (673 votes). The budget is an 0.89 percent ($921,765) increase over the current year, and it comes with a 0.89 percent hike in the school tax levy. That is within the state's 2.64 percent tax cap, so the budget only needed to be approved by a majority vote.

There were four Board of Education seats up for election, but only three candidates filed the required petitions back in April to run for election to the board. Therefore, the write-in candidate with the most votes also was elected.

Cynthia (MacGregor) Fox (844 votes), was the on-ballot candidate with the highest number of votes. She will serve with incumbents Erik Grutzner (731 votes) and Dehisy Jimenez-Vazquez (692 votes) until June 30, 2024.

The write-in winner was Leonore Volpe (222 votes), and she will serve a one-year term.

The proposed increase of $750,000 to the transportation budget passed 681 to 424. The money will be used for bus/vehicle purchases under the district's multi-year replacement plan.

School spending

Budget proposed for 2021-22: $104,903,457

• Yes: 674
• No: 446

Board of Education

Four seats were open, but only three candidates filed the required petitions. They were elected until 2024. The write-in candidate with the most votes was elected to a one-year term.

• Cynthia (MacGregor) Fox: 844 votes
• Erik Grutzner (incumbent): 731 votes
• Dehisy Jimenez-Vazquez (incumbent): 692 votes
• Leonore Volpe (write-in candidate): 222 votes

Additional Vote

On the proposed increase of $750,000 to the transportation budget to be used for bus/vehicle purchases under the district's multi-year replacement plan.

• Yes: 681
• No: 424