Heavy voter turnout in Tioga Central where a 30 percent tax increase was presented to voters. The vote failed as it did not get the 60 percent supermajority needed. (Photo by Rick Stilson)
In the biggest school board vote of the night, the Tioga Central School District is left searching for answers as their budget failed to get the 60 percent supermajority of support from voters required for passage of their 2015-16 budget. The tally came in at 621 yes to 559 no. The budget – with a 30 percent school tax increase – would have needed 690 votes to pass.
It was a record turnout for Tioga Central, with 1,255 voters coming out to let their opinion be known. An additional 36 absentee ballots were received; seven absentee ballots were voided because they were improperly filled out.
Tioga Central voters did approve the purchase of three buses, the cost not to exceed $335,000. Total votes for the buses were 657 to 519.
“I’m disappointed it didn’t pass,” Tioga Central Superintendent Scot Taylor said after the results were known. “We spent a lot of time and energy presenting it to the public,” he added. Taylor said the large increase in taxes was an effort to shore up the district’s tax levy after years of disappointing state aid disbursements and spending the district’s reserve funds.
“The Board and I are going to sit down and decide what we’re going to do,” Taylor said. The entire school board sat with Taylor in a separate room in the district’s administration office while the votes were counted. Taylor said the Board of Education was likely to make some decisions on how to proceed the on May 20, in a special meeting. Taylor would not speculate about the school boards’ response before the meeting.
The 30 percent increase was necessary to bolster the district’s tax levy, Taylor said. With the vote coming in 69 votes short of the required 60 percent approval, Taylor said there is going to be some reductions in the district.
“It’s going to impact the kids, whether it’s cuts in staff or programs,” Taylor said before retiring to the room with the district’s Board of Education to discuss their options.
Tioga Central’s budget was the only one to fail in Tioga County, although voters did not approve Waverly’s $3 million capitol project.
Candor Central School’s budget passed by a margin of 225 to 75, and the Candor bus initiative passed 223 to 81. Spencer Van Etten’s budget, which due to the quirks in New York’s 2 percent tax cap needed a 60 percent supermajority despite having a 0 percent tax increase, passed 486 to 126 according to a tweet from Spencer Van Etten Superintendent Joseph Morgan, a 79 percent margin.
Owego Apalachin’s 2015-16 budget passed with a 60 percent approval, 638 to 423, according to Owego Apalachin’s Public Relations Director Stephen Jensen. The district’s bus replacement program was approved 700 to 341 with 20 abstentions, according to Jensen.
Voters 572 to 396, with 93 abstentions, approved the Apalachin Public Library’s referendum for $12,444 in additional funding. The additional money will be used to offset increases to operational costs for the library, as well as supporting the library’s programs, according to Apalachin Library Association President John Deopuria.
The NV budget for 2015-16 passed 241-85.
A proposition to issue serial bonds to purchase three school buses and one buildings and grounds vehicle at a total cost of $430,000 was approved 275-105.
A proposition to use $92,500 in Capital (Vehicle) Reserve to partially fund school buses and vehicles purchased was approved 253-111.
A capital project including improvements in all school buildings, a new bus garage, and other repairs and upgrades was approved 252-119.
Use $1,500,000 from Capital Reserves to pay a portion of this capital project was approved 253-89.
Wendy Post contributed to this report.
