Washigtonville, NY - Budget At Risk Over Jewish Camp Flap

Washigtonville, NY - There's this summer camp at Taft Elementary School. It's called Camp Gan Israel, run by the Chabad-Lubavitch of Orange County. It's using the school for three weeks free of charge like other nonprofits this summer.

But it's only this Jewish camp that has sparked threats from taxpayers to derail the Washingtonville School District's revised $73 million budget, which comes up for a vote.
Taxpayers think the Monroe-based Chabad is getting a free ride. Critics believe the camp - and any nonprofit group - should have to pay because the district can't afford to run buildings free of charge.
Some parents say the camp has allegedly turned away non-Jewish children, contrary to district policy, and will use fields, a playground and a kitchen, in addition to classrooms.

Superintendent Marilyn Pirkle said the policy committee will likely take up the issue, but changing it will take months and won't be in place for this summer. But a rejection of the budget would force fees to be imposed right now.
If taxpayers vote no, the district would have to adopt an austerity budget, which would, among other things, force any group seeking to use a school facility to pay a fee. In the case of the Chabad camp, it would amount to $900.