Note: in the May 22 edition of the paper, Saratoga TODAY ran a graphic on the front page showing that budget resolutions in Galway failed. This was meant to reflect that voters in Galway rejected a capital budget proposal for the purchase of an electric bus as it was the only such proposal in Saratoga County to be rejected by voters. The graphic does not reflect all budget proposals on the ballot in Galway such as those that dealt with the operational budget and other capital expenses, which were passed by wide margins. We apologize for any confusion caused by the graphic.
Voters in Saratoga County have once again gone to the polls and cast their votes, this time to approve budgets for Saratoga County’s 12 school districts.
While voters overwhelmingly approved all budgets, the decision to purchase electric buses turned out to be somewhat more controversial, with Ballston Spa approving a measure to purchase a bus by less than 100 votes and Galway rejecting the proposal outright.
From buses to libraries, here is a snapshot of School elections in Saratoga County.
Saratoga Springs.
Saratoga Springs overwhelmingly passed its two resolutions on the ballot. The first of these resolutions was the budget which totaled $166,095,679 and increased the tax levy by 3.85%. It funded programs such as girls wrestling and upgrades to facilities. This measure was passed by a vote of 1526 to 509.
The second measure was a ballot initiative which would have the school district issue $2,413,000 in bonds to purchase eight 70 passenger buses, five 30 passenger buses and three SUVs with state aid reimbursing 40% of the cost. This measure passed 1529 to 375.
The final measure on the ballot was the Board of Education election. Three people — Lauren Allen, Anita Stabrowski and Beth Braxton — ran for the three seats up for grabs. All were elected to the school board with Braxton receiving the most votes with 1567.
Ballston Spa.
In Ballston Spa the election there were four propositions on the education ballot this year. Voters overwhelmingly approved three out of the four resolutions of the ballot. The first, prop one saw voters approve of a $113,742,988 budget with a 3.9% increased tax levy. This was approved 885 to 300.
Prop two will see $1,620,100 spent to purchase and replace existing vehicles within the district. This measure was passed by a vote of 892 to 292.
Prop four was for the library. It authorized the district to collect $65,902 and contribute it to the Ballston Spa Public Library. It received the highest approval from voters passing by a vote of 991 to 194.
The final proposition, prop two, was the most controversial. It would see the district purchase a new electric bus by a vote of 624 to 559, the closest of any vote in the district. The purchase is made in advance of a state requirement that all buses purchased after June 30, 2027, be electric with gas and diesel buses phased out completely by 2035.
The final item on the ballot was electing three people to the Board of Education. The three candidates — Matthew Dreher, Katie Whittemore and Julia Routbort Baskin —were all elected to the board with Dreher receiving the most votes at 917.
Schuylerville
While Schuylerville may have had a lower turnout than Ballston Spa or Saratoga Springs, it still approved its budget by a wide margin. Prop 1, which would see a $40.8 million budget and a 2.99% increased tax levy was passed by a vote of 378 to 121.
Like Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs, it also decided to upgrade it’s fleet of buses, leasing eight 65 passenger buses for $1,334,500 across the next five years. This measure was passed 395 to 103.
Like Ballston Spa, Schuylerville also voted to approve a budget for its library with voters approving a $446,000 budget 413 to 83.
Galway
The only district in Saratoga County where voters rejected a ballot measure was in Galway. The district which covers the parts of the Towns of Galway, Providence, Milton and Charlton, passed its $27,688,682 budget by a vote of 383 to 239 and voted to purchase three diesel or gas school buses by a vote of 425 to 197.
The lone proposition voters rejected was spending $445,000 to purchase an electric school bus and charger. This provision was rejected by a majority of voters 373 to 248.
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
In the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School district voted to pass their budget $94.8 million budget by a vote of 969-383.
In addition, voters re-elected Lakshmi Nagarajan and James Ireland and elected John Shillito to the Board of Education.
Corinth
Voters in the Corinth Central School District voted to approve three ballot measures for the upcoming year. The first of these measures was a $29,905,000 budget with a tax increase of 2.6%. This measure passed by a vote of 173-99.
Like other school districts this year, the Corinth Central School District asked voters for funds to upgrade their bus fleet. Voters passed a resolution that would purchase two diesel buses at a cost of $408,276. The resolution passed by a vote of 183-88.
The final resolution voters passed was a resolution for the district to collect and distribute $89,500 to the Corinth Public Library for operating the library. Voters passed this resolution 186-84.
In addition to these resolutions, Corinth voters elected Tyler Ecuyer to the Board of Education for a five-year term.
Edinburg
The Edinburg Common School District had two resolutions on their ballot this year. The first was to approve a $4,103,800 budget with no increase in tax. This measure passed by a vote of 69-13.
Like many other school districts, Edinburg voted to approve the purchase of new vehicles. I this case, voters approved a measure to purchase a 24-seat backup handicap accessible bus for $119,000. The measure passed by a vote of 67 to 15.
In addition to the two measures, voters in Edinburg elected Christian Bills and Angela Ludwig to the Board of Education.
Mechanicville
The Mechanicville City School had two measures on the ballot. For the first measure voters voted to approve a $37,350,893 budget and a 3.4% tax levy by a vote of 306 to 120.
Like several other districts, Mechanicville voters approved upgrades to its transportation services. Voters approved the purchase of 72-passenger buses, one 30 passenger bus and a 30-seat wheelchair accessible bus at a cost of $598,000. Voters approved the purchase by a vote of 277 to 123.
In addition to the resolutions, voters elected Scott D’Ambro and Kelly Pitcheralle to the Board of Education and Dawnmarie Robens to the Mechanicville Library Board of Trustees.
Shenendehowa
Voters in the Shenendehowa Central School District, voters had two resolutions and a Board of Education election. The first of these was a budget resolution which proposed a $234,495,425 and a tax levy of 5.04%. This resolution was passed by a vote of 1887 to 648.
The second resolution focused on vehicle purchases. Voters approved the purchase of 15 66-passenger buses, six 30-passenger buses, a transportation department support vehicle, a bobcat/mower and a truck with a plow attachment at a cost of $3,697,100. Voters approved this resolution by a vote of 1907 to 626.
Shenendehowa was the only district in Saratoga County with a competitive school board race with five candidates running to fill two seats. Sarah Schanz was elected to the Board of Education, receiving 1,314 votes, and Naomi Hoffman was reelected receiving 1,151 votes. The two candidates beat Eric Leander, incumbent Patrice King and Abigail Gomes.
South Glens Falls
Only one resolution was on the ballot for the South Glens Falls Central School District — the budget. Voters passed a $76,244,314 budget and a 2.94% increase in tax levy. This measure was approved 408-173.
In addition three candidates — Haley Brashears, William Elder, and Nicholas Healy — were elected to the Board of Election.
Stillwater
The Stillwater Central School District had two resolutions. The first was the annual budget proposal which saw voters approve a $32,273,515 budget and an increased tax levy of 6.62%. The resolution was passed 221-109.
The second resolution was a $425,990 budget for the Stillwater Public Library. This resolution was passed by voters 210-120.
In addition to the resolutions, three people — Andrew Krapski, Eric Nelson, and Rachel Womble — to the Board of Education.
Waterford Halfmoon
Last but not least, in Saratoga’s southernmost district, voters in the Waterford-Halfmoon Union School District. Voters had two resolutions this year. The first was the budget vote which saw voters approve a $24,624,383 budget and a 1.4% increase in tax levy 140-48.
The second was the establishment of a capital reserve budget of $4 million over the next 10 years. This measure was passed by a vote of 138-49.
In addition to the two resolutions, voters elected Jevon Waldron, Tony Noto and Cory O’Brien to the Board of Education.
