Teachers and students in East Ramapo are reeling from yesterday's defeat of the school budget by voters.

By a roughly 2-1 margin, voters defeated a $200.5 million budget that called for a 7.5-percent tax hike.

"I'm absolutely crushed," said a East Ramapo student. "A lot of beloved teachers are gonna be laid off their positions."

Under the original budget, 86 positions would be eliminated in the district, but according to Irene Bielski, president of the East Ramapo Teachers Association, the failure of the budget means even deeper cuts and more layoffs should be expected.

The East Ramapo School Board will decide next Wednesday whether to put the budget up for a revote or to adopt an austerity budget.

Hudson Valley School Vote 2011 Results

Minisink Valley school board mulling options after budget defeat