Newburgh voters will go back to the polls on June 18 for a second vote on the 2024-25 school budget, which was defeated in the May 21 vote.
District Clerk Matthew McCoy confirmed this week that he had reached out to the Orange County Board for Elections for permission to use their voting machine for a second school vote.
The proposed $360.4 million spending plan was defeated by a margin of 1,091-1,002. McCoy said the board would be required to hold a public hearing on a revised budget by June 11, seven days before the vote, with board approval of the proposed budget by June 4. The school board will conduct a special meeting to discuss the proposed budget on Thursday, May 30 at 8 p.m. in the district auditorium.
The school board has several options, according to Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell, Superintendent of Schools. It could have adopted a contingent budget immediately following the budget defeat. In choosing to hold a second school budget vote, it could put the same $360.4 million budget back for a second vote, or it could present a revised budget to the voters. That decision is expected to come Thursday night.
The June 18 vote will also feature a runoff school vote among school board candidates. Incumbent Philip Howard and new candidate Thomasina Bello tied for third in the voting. In the May 21 election, candidate Christine Bello took the most votes with 1,161 votes followed by Mackenzie Bousche with 871votes. They were sworn in on Tuesday, filling vacancies caused by resignations in February.