Majority of school budgets pass

It was a good day for local school districts as all but two — Mohawk and Owen D. Young — saw their budgets approved Tuesday night.
The Little Falls City School District’s $20,138,088 budget, which calls for increased spending of 3.29 percent and includes a 2.44 percent increase in the amount to be raised by local property taxes, passed by a vote of 363-163.
“I’m delighted by the support the Little Falls community continues to show toward our school district,” said Superintendent of Schools Louis Patrei. “The community continues to support their school district and their values year after year.”
“I congratulate the citizens of our school district for this tremendous show of support. I’m delighted by their positive response,” said board of education President G. Craig Hebert. “I also want to thank my fellow commissioners on their commitment to our school district.”
Hebert also congratulated commissioners William Dodge and Richard Salamone on their re-election. Salamone received 347 votes and Dodge received 341 votes to win the two three-year seats on the board of education.
In addition to the budget, district voters approved an additional $4,950 in funding for the Little Falls Public Library.
The proposition passed by a margin of 342-169.
Voters in the Dolgeville Central School District approved the $16,766,042 budget by a count of 196-102.
Superintendent of Schools Theodore Kawryga Tuesday night thanked the community for their support.
“More people came out to cast their ballot this year than last year, and we thank them for voting for our budget,” he said.
The budget calls for an 8.79 percent increase in spending and a two percent increase in the tax levy.
Donna Christensen received 238 votes to earn a five-year seat on the school board.
The Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School District’s proposed $8.28 million budget was approved by a margin of 106-97. The budget represents a spending increase of 3.36 percent and raises the amount to be collected by local property taxes by 1.46 percent.
Incumbent David Rackmyre and Jennifer Frasier were unopposed for two three-year seats on the board of education.
Voters in the St. Johnsville Central School District approved the proposed $9.4 million budget by a vote of 194-166.
The budget increases spending by 1.56 percent and increases the tax levy by 1.91 percent.
The tax levy increase is only the fourth tax levy increase in the past 14 years.
Patricia “Tish” Christensen defeated Valerie Dolan by a count of 211-189 for a five-year seat on the school board.
The Fort Plain Central School District’s $17.46 million budget passed 344-301. The budget represents spending increase of 1.10 percent from the current year and includes a tax levy increase of .02 percent. The proposition to allow the district to borrow $485,000 to purchase three full-size buses, one half-size bus with a wheelchair lift and flexible floor plan and one smaller passenger vehicle was defeated 327-299.
Louis “Rusty” Capece, 407 votes, and Mary Beth Hudyncia, 346 votes, were elected to two three-year seats on the board of education. Jeffrey Jones finished third with 337 votes and Diane Raffa finished fourth with 176 votes.
Elsewhere, voters in the Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District passed their $16,944,449 spending plan by a margin of 319-103 and re-elected Michael Button to a five-year term on the school board. Button defeated Nicholas Spine by a vote of 308-135. The Herkimer Central School District’s proposed $18,923,335 budget passed by a vote of 267-191. Re-elected to the school board were incumbents Anthony Brindisi, 312 votes, and John Cipriano, 303 votes. Also elected was newcomer Daniel Voce, who received 278 votes. Incumbent Robert Mihevc received 274 votes. Brindisi and Cipriano were elected to two-year terms and Voce was elected to a one-year term to expire on June 30, 2010. The bus proposition passed by a margin of 276-180 and the library proposition passed by a vote of 270-181.
Voters in the Ilion Central School District passed their $23,839,590 budget by a count of 313-97 and elected incumbent Daniel LaLonde and James Vitale to the school board. LaLonde received 329 votes and Vitale received 225 votes to earn the two, two-year terms. Katherine Durant finished with 225 votes. The Mount Markham Central School District’s $24,305,173 budget passed by a margin of 250-129 and Thomas Huxtable, 321 votes, and write-in candidate Jack Kilty, 36 votes, won the two three-year seats on the board of education.
The Poland Central School District’s $12,735,242 budget passed by a margin of 180-128 and Karen Ryan, 174 votes, defeated Robert Batson, 148 votes, for a five-year seat on the school board. West Canada Valley Central School District voters passed their $14,196,054 budget by a count of 203-91 and Melissa Bolton, 227 votes, and Erin Roberts, 221 votes, were elected to three-year terms on the board of education.
The Mohawk Central School District’s proposed $14,139,348 spending plan was defeated by a margin of 504-235. The budget called for a 4.4 percent increase in the tax levy. Results in the board of education race between incumbent John LiBritz and newcomers James Fleming and Michael Santillo were not available.
Voters in the Owen D. Young Central School District voted down their $5,371,790 budget by a vote of 163-119. The budget called for a 3.1 percent increase in the tax levy. Cathy Mayton-Collins defeated Ann Marie Starring by a count of 166-132 for a four-year seat on the school board and the proposition to purchase a 64-passenger bus for $81,000 passed by a vote of 137-126.