CVCS, SKCS and SCS Budget Passed by Voters

By Liz Page

Three local school districts had their budgets approved during statewide voting on May 20. Stamford Central, South Kortright Central and Charlotte Valley Central all passed budgets.

The proposed budget in the Stamford Central School District totaled $11,548,875 and is up by $548,901, an increase of 4.99 percent over the current budget. It is projecting a 2.22 percent increase in the tax levy which remains within the allowable state tax cap. Voters approved the proposed budget by an 82 to 69 margin.

They also approved the purchase of a 65-passenger diesel bus, the cost not to exceed $166,44.97 by a margin of 87 to 63. The purchase of a tractor, the cost not to exceed $50,000, was approved by an 82 to 66 margin.

A $5 million Transportation Capital Reserve Fund also passed by a margin of 84 to 65. It will create funding for electric buses and infrastructure to own the buses for the future.

Two school board members, both unopposed, were reseated. They were Catherine Snyder with 118 votes and Chris Albano with 114 votes. There were also write-in votes for Kathleen Cannon, Tom Sherwood, Deb Mueller, Deb Muller k Kay Graves, Ann-Lis Glenn and Amanda Shaffer.

At South Kortright Central, the proposed budget totals $11,645,610, an increase of 1.5 percent over the current budget which exceeds the allowable state tax cap limit of -.03 percent for SKCS. It projects a 2 percent increase in the tax levy; it needed a 60 percent majority of the qualified voters to pass. The budget did pass by a vote of 146 to 68.

District residents are also asked to decide the purchase of one 21- passenger, handicap accessible school bus and two minivans. The amount is not to exceed $205,00. The bus proposition passed by a 168 to 46 vote.

In the three-way race for one school board seat, Stephen Tucker was seated with a vote of 89. Jim Hitt received 67 votes and Janet Beken Smith received 55 votes.

At Charlotte Valley Central School, voters approved the proposed budget 105 to 21. The budget totals $12,755,676 and remains within the allowable tax cap. It is projecting a three percent increase in the tax levy, just under the allowable 3.03 percent tax cap for CVCS.

Voters re-elected Matt Moyse and Amanda Richter, both unopposed, to the school board by votes of 104 and 107, respectively.