Chappaqua School Budget Results Are In

CHAPPAQUA, NY — Chappaqua school district residents approved a 2019-20 school budget on Tuesday.

The $126.1 million proposed budget is a 2.93% spending increase over the current year and it comes with a 0.94% hike in the school tax levy. That is within the state's tax cap for the district so the budget only needed to be approved by a majority vote.

Five people ran for two seats on the Board of Education.

• Hilary Grasso
• Leah Heiss
• Cailee Hwang
• Warren Messner (incumbent)
• Jeffrey Mester (incumbent)

Other propositions:

• Authorize the board to spend up to $390,000 on renovations and equipment replacement at the Robert E. Bell Middle School cafeteria, using up to $190,000 from fund balance, and the remainder to be paid using general fund transfers to the capital fund
• Authorize the board to spend up to $1,350,000 by transferring money from the unassigned fund balance to pay for renovations and construction for security updates and building access controls at Robert E. Bell and Seven Bridges middle schools, and Douglas Graffin, Roaring Brook and Westorchard elementary schools

Also on the ballot: The Chappaqua Library proposed a spending plan of $3,176,254 and one person ran for a seat on the board.

Results:

School Budget Resolution:

• Yes : 1067
• No: 202

Library Budget Resolution:

• Yes: 1092
• No: 178

Safety & Security Proposition

• Yes: 1057
• No: 210

Bell Cafeteria Proposition

• Yes: 1092
• No: 173

Board of Education candidates:

• Hilary Grasso: 662
• Warren Messner: 540
• Jeffrey Mester: 458
• Cailee Hwang: 338
• Leah Heiss: 282

School District Library candidate:

• Lane Shea: 1006

Affidavit ballots to be verified with the Board of Elections Wednesday morning: 9

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