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FULTON COUNTY — Voters approved a combined $155.89 million for Fulton County-based school districts on Tuesday night, a $7.47 million annual increase.
Approximately 2,188 voters showed up to the polls, the vast majority of whom approved respective spending plans. Voting margins spanned from 68 in the Northville Central School District to 274 in the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District.
At 0.95%, BPCSD had the lowest tax levy increase under the state’s cap proposal and, at 3.62%, Wheelerville Union Free School District had the highest.
While budget items often pass, there are exceptions. For the Greater Johnstown School District, this is the third-straight year that the school has passed a tax levy increase without issue (4.47%). From 2018 to 2020, voters shot down first-attempt increases.
For Mayfield Central School District, this year’s budget meant an opportunity to use some of the funds for security systems and gymnasium upgrades, as well as several temporary positions.
“We want to thank everyone who took the time to come out and vote,” said Superintendent Christopher Harper in a news release. “Our schools are the heartbeat of our community, and voting is an important way residents show that they care about Mayfield students.”
Carrying the weight of school budgets are salary and benefit expenses. Gloversville Enlarged School District plans to boost salaries for mechanics by more than $10,000 in order to remain competitive in the area.
GESD has the largest school budget in the county, $74 million — about $68 million more than the lowest, WUFSD.
This marks the last year area schools can use federal COVID-19 relief funds in their spending plan. This forthcoming year will also include, for the first time, fully funded foundation aid, the main anchor of public school budgets across the state.
In addition to the budget, voters approved a number of propositions, ranging from the establishment of a capital reserve funds in BPCSD and GJSD to bus purchases across the board.
In all districts, at least one school board seat was up for grabs. For GESD, incumbents Sharon Poling, John Lott and Michael Oathout were each re-elected for a three-year term, and write-in candidate Heath Insonia was elected to a one-year unexpired term.
Insonia will fill the slot of Thomas Canty, who died at 44 years old in November of last year following a bout with cancer.
GESD Superintendent David Halloran knows Insonia from seeing him at school basketball games.
“He’s a pretty well-known person in the community,” said Halloran. “I did hear that he was interested and I’m not surprised that he got the write-in spot.”
Insonia didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Find links to our reports on each individual Fulton County district’s voting results below.
- Gloversville: Voters OK $74.015 million Gloversville Enlarged School District budget
- Johnstown: Voters approve $42.2M Greater Johnstown School District budget
- Broadalbin-Perth: Broadalbin-Perth CSD voters approve $41.2 M budget
- Mayfield: Mayfield CSD voters approve $21.2 million school budget
- Northville: Northville Central School District voters pass budget
- OESJ: OESJ voters approve $23.524 million 2023-24 school budget
Tyler A. McNeil can be reached at 518-395-3047 or [email protected] Follow him on Facebook at Tyler A. McNeil, Daily Gazette or Twitter @TylerAMcNeil.
