Warwick voters turn down $71.9 million budget

Baldino, Ginley, Sarbak gain seats on school board Warwick — Voters again defeated Warwick’s school budget, despite the lowest percentage increase in eight years, by 149 votes. Stephen Baldino retained his seat on the board in Tuesday’s vote and will be joined by newcomers Joseph Ginley and Janine Sarbak, the top vote-getters in a field of six candidates. The proposition to replace buses passed. Warwick was one of only three districts in Orange County to have its budget fail — Washingtonville and Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery were the other two. Every other district in the county approved its budget, including neighboring districts Florida, Greenwood Lake, Goshen and Chester. This was the last budget put together by recently retired superintendent Dr. Joseph Natale. In February, Dr. Frank Greenhall took over and was able to cut that budget an additional $200,000, making the increase 4.79 percent over last year’s budget. “It is as tight as you can get without cutting programs,” Greenhall had said. Wednesday, Greenhall was faced with his first-ever budget defeat as a superintendent. Although he didn’t put together this budget, he felt he had a part in it. He was disappointed that the public didn’t accept the budget, but said he would look forward, not back. “The new budget starts today,” said Greenhall. “I have two things to do. One, change the no votes to yes votes. Two, get the non-voters to the polls.” With between 4,000 and 5,000 children in the district, Greenhall hopes to get out more of the parents. And, even though he’s not sure which way they will vote, having them vote and giving feedback will help him make the necessary changes to get a budget passed next year. “We didn’t lose to no votes. We lost to apathy,” said Greenhall. “And I want to find out what made those voters vote no.” Greenhall also said the board would only initiate one budget vote. Another vote could happen if the public petitioned the board but, after having two votes for a dozen of the last 16 years, the board decided not to go that route again on its own. This was the smallest increase to taxpayers since the 1998-99 school year when the budget increased 4.71 percent. In 2000-01, the budget increased more than 15 percent; in 1993-94, the increase was 3.05 percent. The base budget, which includes salaries and benefits, utilities, debt, and supplies, increases 4.42 percent, up to $71,713,189. Staffing needs increase $256,116, up .37 percent. What’s next? Based on state requirements, the board will have to cut $207,089, according to Greenhall, and adopt an austerity budget. That’s not a lot of money from this budget, but it could be felt by the community, namely requiring community groups to pay to use the facilities. It won’t impact kids in the classroom, though, and that gives Greenhall some comfort. “We don’t have to lay off teachers. There are no staff cuts,” said Greenhall. “That makes it much easier to accept. No programs will be cut because of it either. It is all equipment. One hundred ninety-five thousand dollars in equipment. That leaves $12,089 to cut and we’ll look at administration for most of that.” Even though he has only been in Warwick since Feb. 1, Greenhall feels he has let down the community. “I’ve never lost a budget before,” said Greenhall. “I feel I’ve let the community down. I didn’t deliver a positive vote. We have to do more.” Warwick Valley School District Budget: $72 million Yes: 1,685 No: 1,834 School board: Three seats, three-year terms • Stephen A. Baldino* 1,631 • Joseph Ginley 1,534 • Janine Sarbak 1,412 • James Mezzetti 1,253 • Jerome Sommer* 1,252 • Mark Glasse 764 * indicates incumbent