Library proposition passes; three trustees elected
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, residents of the Stillwater Central School District approved the proposed $31,707,356 budget for the 2025-26 school year by a vote of 373 to 145, a 72.01% approval. The budget reflects a 3.00% increase in spending over the current-year budget and a 4.87% increase in the tax levy, which is within the district’s tax levy limit.
“On behalf of the Stillwater Central School District, I sincerely thank the community for their participation in today’s vote,” said Superintendent of Schools Joseph Mariano, Jr. “Your approval of the 2025-26 budget ensures we continue providing a safe, high-quality education that supports student success while maintaining long-term fiscal responsibility. We’re excited to move forward together, building on this foundation for our students and future generations.”
The approved budget maintains all educational programs for students, preserves current services and includes the purchase of four new diesel school buses. It also provides funding for faculty and staff salary increases, higher health insurance and employee benefit costs, the elementary STEAM program, BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE), and a new agricultural science teacher position.
The projected tax levy—the total amount of money a school district raises through property taxes—increases by 4.87% under the approved budget. This increase is below Stillwater’s maximum allowable tax levy increase of 4.88% as determined by the state’s tax levy “cap” formula.
District officials surmise that school tax rates, which are the amount of taxes residents pay per $1,000 of assessed property value, will increase by approximately 2.31% for district residents. Final school tax rates are set in August when municipalities finalize their assessment rolls.
Board of Education election
Three seats on the Stillwater Board of Education were up for election this year, each for three-year terms. Candidates received the following number of votes:
- Tara Gutman: 326 votes
- Robert McCoy: 301 votes
- Aimee Salecker: 298 votes
- John Hoogeveen: 180 votes
- Carrie Sabourin (*write-in): 94 votes
Tara Gutman, Rob McCoy and Aimee Salecker will fill three-year terms beginning on July 1, 2025.
Stillwater Public Library proposition approved, trustees elected
District residents approved a $413,782 budget for the Stillwater Public Library by a vote of 323 to 191, which is separate and apart from the school district budget, to fund the operating budget of the library. The Stillwater Public Library has the same service boundary as the school district, however, the library is not governed by the district.
Voters also elected the following three individuals to the library’s Board of Trustees to three-year terms beginning July 1, 2025:
- Christine Zakrzewski: 291 votes
- Brandon Dingeman: 26 votes
- Lora Segura: 18 votes