SALAMANCA — Voters of the Salamanca City Central School District soundly approved a $47.72 million budget by a 123-23 margin.
The budget includes a 9.6% increase in the spending plan — roughly a $5 million increase — but no change in the tax levy, which remains at $250,000 for the fourth straight vote.
Superintendent Robert Breidenstein said voter turnout was lower based on previous years and especially compared to the 2020 vote when the district mailed out absentee ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The overall ratio of positive votes was pretty consistent with recent years, around 86 or 87 percent positive votes to pass the budget and the property acquisition,” he said.
Voters also approved the purchase of a piece of property for $79,999 at a 120-25 tally. Incumbent Dale Colton was re-elected to another five-year term on the school board, receiving 131 votes.
Breidenstein said the district has tried to be responsive to the programming needs and changes brought on by COVID-19. Several newly created positions have been added for the upcoming school year in anticipation of all students returning to buildings five days a week in September, he explained.
Among the new positions are roles for providing remediation and support; dealing with students’ social and emotional needs when transitioning back to school; and an assistant director of exceptional education to relaunch the district’s gifted program as well as help students with learning gaps due to COVID, Breidenstein said.
“The budget it’s important because we’re meeting our program needs, and the community is supporting those funding requirements to do so with a very high percentage of positive ‘yesses,’” he added.
ALL OTHER local school districts also passed their budgets. New York state reported only five public schools across the state failed to pass their budgets. The results of other area district votes and school board elections are:
Cattaraugus-Little Valley
Voters approved a $27.43 million budget by a 170-33 tally. The budget includes a 3.25% increase to the spending plan and no change in the tax levy. Voters also approved an $18.5 million capital improvement project, 180-23, and the purchase of school buses for up to $285,000 with a 153-52 margin. School board candidates Joel Merrill, James McDonnell and Carrie Colburn-Mozes were elected to three open seats, receiving 149, 134 and 124 votes, respectively.
Ellicottville
Voters approved a $13.46 million budget by a 113-11 tally. The budget includes a 1.8% increase to the spending plan, including a 2.1% increase to the tax levy. Voters also approved establishing a “Capital Improvements Reserve Fund” not to exceed $5 million, by a 107-16 margin; establish a “Transportation Reserve Fund” not to exceed $1 million, by a 108-16 margin; and to lease two school buses for up to $39,600 by a 114-9 margin. Erin Cornelius was also elected to the school board, receiving 12 votes in a write-in decision.
Gowanda
Voters approved a $34.1 million budget by a 254-59 tally. The budget includes a 0.58% decrease in the spending plan, but a 1.21% increase in the tax levy. Voters also approved the purchase of three buses for up to $301,642.50, by a 284-29 margin; and establish a Transportation Reserve Fund, by a 263-48 margin. School board candidates Max Graham and Dollene Christopher were elected to two of the three open seats, receiving 251 and 206 votes, respectively. Candidates Jill K. Smith and Shauna McMahon vye for a third seat, which wasn’t decided by press time Tuesday.
Randolph
Voters approved a $20.48 million budget with a 136-8 tally. The budget includes a 1.4% increase in the spending plan with a 1.4% increase in the tax levy. School board candidates Eric Brown and Janet Huntington were elected to two open seats, receiving 137 and 117 votes, respectively.
West Valley
Voters approved a $9.04 million budget by a 146-69 tally. The budget includes a 3.93% increase in the spending plan and no change in the taxi levy. Voters also approved the purchase of one school bus for up to $126,891.17 with a 139-72 margin. School board candidate Amanda Lawrence, 152 votes, was elected to one 5-year seat; Tracy Conrad Chai, 154 votes, was elected to one 3-year seat; and Carla Heitman, 108 votes, was elected to one 1-year seat.
