By Doug La Rocque and Alex Brooks
Voters across New York State went to the polls Tuesday, May 21, to decide on the budgets for the 2019-2020 school year. In Brunswick, Berlin, Cambridge, Hoosick Falls and New Lebanon, the voters approved, by large margins, the proposals put before them.
Hoosick Falls School District
Hoosick Falls Central School budget passed by a vote of 298 yes to 114 no. The bus proposition passed by a vote of 308-101. Joe Patire was re-elected to the School Board with 322 votes, Rachel Boisvert was re-elected with 291 votes, and Andy Beaty was re-elected with 286 votes.
Board President John Helft said, “I’m excited to see the level of taxpayer support for the school. I’d like to thank the community for that on behalf of the Board, the students, teachers and staff.”
High School Principal and soon to be Superintendent Patrick Dailey said, “I am very pleased and thankful for the public support for the school shown today, and for the public’s ongoing support of everything we do.”
Brittonkill Central School District
In Brunswick, the budget was passed with 333 yes votes to 132 no. There were four candidates for three open seats on the school board. The three incumbents were re-elected, those being Board President Jack Roddy (359 votes), Margaret McCarthy (350 votes) and Leah Wertz (339 votes). The challenger, Larry Blanchard had 165 votes cast for him.
The $25.4 million spending plan carries a tax increase of 4.25 %.
District Superintendent Angelina Maloney said after the vote she appreciates “the continued support the voters for our programs and the students.”
Berlin Central School District
In Berlin, the $21.9 million budget carried a tax hike of 1.89%. That too was palatable to the voters, who approved it by a vote of 275 yes to just 78 no. The three propositions, for bus purchases, a capital improvement outlay and to create a capital reserve, were also given the thumbs up by similar margins. The three incumbents whose terms on the school board were due to expire on June 30, were all re-elected. There was no opposition for Rachel Finney, Sherry Bowman-Kluck or Jeffery Paine.
New Lebanon School District
The largest margin of approval by far was in the New Lebanon School District, where only 7 voters said no to the $12.4 million spending plan. There were 141 yes votes cast. District Superintendent Leslie Whitcomb was astonished by the fact only seven voters disapproved of the budget , and attributed it to the district’s fiscal record. It has been seven years since there has been a tax hike, and in fact three years ago, there was actually a tax decrease.
School Board president Timothy Lambert was re-elected with 128 votes, newcomer John Kalisz received 109 votes, and the third open seat on the board went to write in candidate Robert Long with 23 votes.
Cambridge School District
Voters in the Washington County village also approved their school budget, by a vote of 278 to 99, with propositions for vehicle purchases and the library also garnering voter approval. Jessica Ziehm was the lone candidate for the School Board, receiving 337 votes.
Statewide, nearly 99% of the school districts said yes to the budget proposals before them.