The public school districts within the Town of Wappinger held their budget hearings Monday night. District Elections to Take Place on May 18, 2021

Both Wappinger Town Supervisor Richard L. Thurston and Fishkill Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra have committed to making the public aware of the upcoming School District elections taking place in both municipalities. The Wappingers Central and Beacon City school districts held their annual public hearings Monday for the districts’ budgets to be voted on by the public on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. At these public hearings, district representatives presented each district’s proposed budget for the 2021-2022 school year, reviewed changes, and offered perspective on how school taxes will affect taxpayers in each district.

Wappingers Central School District Superintendent Dr. Dwight Bonk said the district’s proposed budget for 2021-2022 fell within the New York State tax levy increase cap of 1.23 percent. During the budget presentation, Bonk said if the budget is adopted, a majority of homeowners can expect their tax bill to increase between $65 and $200.

Click the red button below to watch Dr. Bonk present the proposed budget. Fast forward to 8:55 to see him break down how the budget will affect you as a taxpayer.

Click Here to Watch the Wappingers Budget Hearing

Beacon City School District representatives also presented their proposed budget during their public hearing. As with Wappingers, officials said the proposed budget falls within the 1.23 percent tax cap. The district’s presentation breaks down how the proposed 2021-2022 budget differs from last year’s budget.

If the budget is adopted, Wappinger residents can expect an increase of approximately $121 to their school tax bill.

Click the button below to watch the Beacon City School District budget hearing. Fast forward to 18:33 to hear about how the budget will affect your taxes as a Wappinger resident.

Click Here to Watch the Beacon City School District Budget Hearing

What Happens Next

If residents in each school district vote to adopt the budget, the proposed levy will be adopted and taxes will be assessed by the districts based on the rates proposed in each budget. If the voters reject the budget and it is not adopted, a contingency budget will go into effect, freezing the total levy at the amount collected last year.

District elections will held on May 18, 2021. Voters in each district will vote whether to adopt the budget, as well as decide on a number of propositions including allocations for bus purchases. Voters will also elect new members to each district’s Board of Elections. For more information on voting hours and polling locations in your school district, visit https://www.beaconk12.org/ or https://www.wappingersschools.org/

School tax bills are prepared and mailed to residents around the beginning of the school year. Residents have a 30-day period in which to make payment without a penalty, and an additional 30 days to pay the tax bill with a penalty assessed.

The Wappingers Central School District Board of Education prepares and adopts the school tax roll on the basis of the budget adopted by the voters for that school year. That budget is prepared solely and entirely by the Wappingers Central School District without any input or involvement from the Town of Wappinger.

The Wappinger Town Receiver of Taxes is required, by obligation of law, to collect School District taxes in the jurisdiction they serve.

Wappinger Town Hall is open to the public weekdays from 8:30am—4:00pm. A mask is required. Upon entering Wappinger Town Hall your temperature will be taken and a COVID-19 questionnaire must be completed.

Visit www.TownofWappingerNY.gov for more information and to complete Town services online.