School Election Results

After an increasingly bitter divide about how Putnam Valley's school district is financed, the results are now in.

Voters decided to support the school board's budget for next year and also gave their blessing to a revised $13.5 million capital plan. The two school board trustees who ran uncontested (Sam Oliverio Jr. and Janette Yetter) were reaffirmed.

The town library's budget was also up for review and it also passed.

Here are the results, which may change slightly with recounts in the next day or two:

• School budget: 1,235 voted yes; 952 voted no
• Bond referendum for capital improvement plan: 1,272 voted yes; 911 voted no
• Trustees: For Oliverio, 1,535 votes. For Yetter, 1,354 votes. Write-in votes were 468
• Library budget: 1,268 voted yes; 906 voted no

After extensive efforts to mobilize voters with meetings and lawn signs, turnout was stronger, with about 2,187 people casting their votes compared to last year, when 1,358 voted. That still means many of the 7,942 potential voters stayed home.

If you're not already a subscriber but would like to receive future stories, please click on the subscribe button at watchingputnamvalley.com and provide your email address. If you have ideas for future stories or want to provide feedback, please send an email to watchingputnamvalley@gmail.com.