Horseheads, Corning school budgets fail to pass. See vote results at Elmira area schools
Officials in two area school districts will have to regroup after voters Tuesday rejected proposed budgets that would have challenged the state property tax cap and thus required 60% approval.
Residents in several other Southern Tier districts easily approved proposed 2025-26 spending plans and other propositions, and elected school board members.
Here's a roundup of school votes from around the Elmira-Corning area:
The tentative $105.8 million 2025-26 school budget included a roughly 3% increase in property taxes, requiring a supermajority 60% voter approval to override the 2% state tax levy limit.
A slim majority of residents, 1,201 — or 51% — voted for the spending plan, while 1,159 voted no, falling short of the 60% threshold.
As a result of the budget vote, the Board of Education will meet to determine the next steps prescribed by New York state budget procedures. After that, the district says it will share the timeline and information with the community.
A proposition to purchase new school buses passed by a vote of 1,342 to 1,012.
Voters elected Daniel Christmas, Matthew Feinberg and Kara Sheehan to three-year terms on the Board of Education.
Voters in the Corning district soundly rejected the proposed $148.6 million spending plan, which called for a 6.33% property tax increase, by 2,860 no votes to 1,927 yes votes. A supermajority 60% yes vote was needed to override the tax cap.
A proposition to purchases buses and other vehicles was also defeated in a closer vote, 2,423 to 2,324.
Residents elected Kate Merrill, Ashley Johnson-Long, Marjorie Lawlor and Erin Merrill to the Corning-Painted Post Board of Education.
School district residents overwhelmingly approved the proposed $155.35 million budget, 704 to 178.
Voters also elected Josh Palmer, Ruth Bruning and Caranell Parks to three-year terms on the Board of Education, and Julie Wray was elected to a one-year term.
Residents in the Elmira Heights district approved a proposed $3.95 million 2025-26 spending plan by a vote of 164 to 60.
Voters also gave thumbs up to several propositions — including one to purchase two school buses, 171-52; supplemental financing for a capital project, 162-62; establish a reserve for technology, 166-57; establish a reserve for transportation, 156-68; and establish a reserve for maintenance, 131-93.
An open school board position is not resolved at this time.
Recreation All aboard! What you'll find during Train Day at Eldridge Park in Elmira on May 24
Voters overwhelmingly approved the tentative $22.56 million budget by a vote of 226 to 30.
Residents also voted in favor of four other propositions — including purchase of two school buses and a passenger van, 218-37; collection of separate tax levies to support the Dutton S. Peterson Library and Montour Falls Memorial Library, 186-70; authorize the school district to spent a little over $1 million from the capital reserve fund for an emergency generator and other building improvements, 226-30; and spend $190,000 from capital reserve for various maintenance equipment purchase, 226-30.
David Stigers and William Shrout were the top vote-getters for two three-year terms on the Board of Education.
District residents approved a $29 million 2025-26 proposed budget by a vote of 128 to 60.
Voters also elected Sean Vallely and Karen Johnson to the Board of Education.
School district voters passed the $31.4 million spending plan, 373 to 201.
A proposition to lease diesel buses passed 374 to 193.
Keith Caslin and Chad Hendrickson were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Education, and Astra Titus was elected to a one-year term.
Residents approved a 2025-26 $47.4 million school district budget, 301 to 109.
A proposition to lease school buses passed, 305 to 105.
Eric Reznicek and Parvin Mensch were elected to serve on the Board of Education.
Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira area school vote roundup: Horseheads, Corning voters say no
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