Most local school budget squeak by

Wallkill passes narrowly; High Point fails Voters in the High Point Regional School District rejected their proposed budget, which had included cuts to staff, programs and the institution of an activities fee. That vote was 1,666 in favor and 2,263 against. Lafayette voters also rejected their budget by a vote of 197 for and 344 against. Meanwhile, the Wallkill Valley Regional budget passed with 1,216 voters in favor and 1,128 against. And, voters in Vernon approved their budget as well. In Vernon, the vote was 2,065 in favor and 1,948 against. In Franklin Borough, the school budget passed by a slim margin: 278 in favor and 257 against. In Hamburg, the school budget squeaked to passage, according to the preliminary results with 191 votes tallied in favor and 189 against. In Ogdensburg Borough, the school budget was voted in with 241 in favor and 158 against. When budgets fail, they are sent to the municipal councils for cuts. Once the towns have made their choices, the school boards can appeal any decision to the state education commissioner. All results are unofficial at this time, according to the Sussex County Board of Elections. School board members High Point Vote for 3 Charles A. Musilli III 1,326 Edward Vander Berg 1,279 Write-in 677 Franklin board members Vote for 3 Louise A. Murphy 396 Jeanine Paszkiel 378 Victoria Pennella 371 Write-in 30 Hamburg board members Vote for 3, 3-yr. term Charlotte Ambrose 285 John Burd 301 Sheila Frayko 292 Write-in 14 Vote for 1, 1-yr. term Danielle Brunner 294 Write-in 4 Lafayette board members Vote for 3 Richard Poshkus 319 Karen Mitchell-Macko 333 Zahide Ozbek 222 Tracy McBride Mustachio 306 Write-in 41 Ogdensburg board members Vote for 2, 3-year term Peter C. Egan Jr. 291 Mary K. Fitzgibbons 318 Write-in 13 Vote for 1, 1-year term Peter Opilla 329 Write-in 6 Vernon Vote for 3 John F. McGowan 2,156 David Zweier 2,048 Thomas Friesema 897 Christine Mentone 1,309 Lori Parrott 1,547 William Higgins 1,510 Write-in 151