22-05-2025
Jefferson residents reject school budget, while other budgets pass
For the second year in a row, residents of the Jefferson Central School District voted against the proposed budget.
According to results from the district, the 2025-26 budget failed 93 yes to 122 no; while the bus purchase failed by five votes 100-115. Marissa DeJoy received 52 write-in votes to be elected to the five-year term on the board of education.
Walton and South Kortright residents approved their school budgets with a supermajority, which was required because their proposed tax increases exceeded the state's tax cap. South Kortright residents approved the proposed budget 146 to 68. Walton residents approved the proposed budget 233 to 105.
'We once again want to thank the Walton Central School District community for supporting the budget,' Walton Superintendent Michael MacDonald said in a news release. 'The continued support of our students and staff is highly appreciated. This budget will allow us to maintain our programming and give our students the best opportunities.'
Laurens residents approved an $11.5 million capital project 115 to 13.
According to the Middleburgh Central School District website, residents approved an $8.1 million capital project, however, the vote tally was not announced.
Margaretville Central School announced on its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon that, 'We have identified an error on the printed ballot for the upcoming school board election. We are actively collaborating with election officials to address and rectify this issue promptly. Ensuring the integrity of our election process is our utmost priority. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.' Later, the district announced on its Facebook page that the budget had passed 198 yes, to 59 no and the bus proposition had also passed, 181 yes to 77 no.
On Wednesday morning, the district released the following statement on its Facebook page: 'As many are aware, we discovered an error on the School Board Election ballots. The law requires us to post the results, but we do have concerns about the validity of those results. Please know we are actively looking into the issue and working with legal council to rectify the situation. Results: Kent Brown: 155 Jennifer Amundsen 99 Andy Cahill 128 Chery Roberts 118.'
An email sent to the district clerk seeking more information was not answered as of press time.
The following information was provided by school officials.
CHENANGO COUNTY
Afton Central School District
Budget: Yes, 156; No, 67.
Proposition: Bus purchases: Yes, 144; No, 79.
School board (3) one five-year term, one three-year term, and one one-year term: Ashley Sherman, 176; Matthew Lashway, 182; Kelly Graven-Briggs, 155. Five-year term, Matthew Lashway; three-year term: Ashley Sherman; one-year term: Kelly Graven-Briggs.
Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District
Budget: Yes, 180; No, 78.
Propositions: Extending the Facilities Improvement Reserve for another 10 years at $10 million: Yes, 186; No, 70. Increasing the Transportation Vehicle Reserve from $3 million to $8 million, Yes, 187; No, 70; Purchase school buses: Yes, 190; No, 68.
School board (2): Thomas Akshar, 204; Steven Buchanan, 96; Cooper Sienko, 78; Aaron Rozelle, 65.
Greene Central School District
Budget: Yes, 294; No, 68.
Proposition: Establishing a $1 million capital reserve fund: Yes, 282; No, 83; Bus purchases: Yes, 292; No, 74; Moore Memorial Library: Yes, 305; No, 61.
School board (3): Angela Fiato — 237; Renee Rideout — 238; Lindsay McCandless — 209; Christopher Lyons — 144; Christopher Austin — 85; Rachel Parsons — 110.
Oxford Academy and Central School
Budget: Yes, 127; No, 46.
Propositions: Purchase student transportation vehicles: Yes, 121; No, 52; library appropriation: Yes, 138; No, 34.
School board (1): Matthew Leach, 160.
Sherburne-Earlville Central School District
Budget: Yes, 139; No, 43.
Propositions: School board terms: Yes, 159; No, 23. Earlville library tax levy: Yes, 136; No, 46.
Unadilla Valley Central School District
Budget: Yes, 131; No, 31.
Propositions: School bus lease: Yes, 137; No, 26; South New Berlin Library budget: Yes, 136; No, 21; establishing a $10 million capital reserve fund: Yes, 132; No, 28.
School board (2): Linda Tuller, 151; Samantha Kemnah, 28.
Delaware County
Andes Central School
Budget: Yes, 81; No, 67.
School board (2): Jessica Bene, 99; Aaron Titch, 41.
Charlotte Valley Central School
Budget: Yes, 105; No, 21.
School board (2): Amanda Richter, 107; Matt Moyse, 104.
Delaware Academy and Central School District at Delhi
Budget: Yes, 181; No, 38
Propositions: Lease nine new buses for five years: Yes, 184; No, 33. Establish a $500,000 technology capital reserve fund: Yes, 181; No, 35. Establish a $500,000 buildings and grounds/transportation capital reserve fund: Yes, 184, No, 35. Establish a $5 million capital reserve fund: Yes, 183; No, 35.
School board (3): Seth Haight, 175; Sean Leddy, 188; Lucy Kelly, 188.
Downsville Central School
Budget: Yes, 67; No, 5.
School board (1): Jeremy Jenkusky, 63.
Franklin Central School
Budget: Yes, 108; No, 27.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 103; No, 32; Franklin Free Library, Yes, 110; No, 25.
School board (1): Brad Taggart, 104.
Hancock Central School
Budget: Yes, 85; No, 26.
Propositions: Louise Adelia Read Memorial Library: Yes, 98; No, 13. Bus purchase: Yes, 82; No, 29. Establish a capital bus reserve: Yes, 86; No, 25.
School board: Nick Hazen Sr., 89 votes elected to a term of July 1, 2025 ending June 20, 2028; Michael MacDonald 96 votes, elected to a term of May 21, 2025 ending June 30, 2028.
Library board: Write in Kristin Barron, eight votes.
Roxbury Central School
Budget: Yes, 118; No, 40.
Proposition: Purchase a bus using the capital reserve fund: Yes, 127; No, 31
School board (1): Ed Fersch, 137.
Sidney Central School
Budget: Yes, 147; No, 43.
Proposition: Purchase two electric buses: Yes, 115; No, 75. Sidney Memorial Library: Yes, 164; No, 28.
School board (3): Corbin Curley, 163, Kerri Green, 161 Justin Poss, 168.
Library board (2): Tom Gorman, 152, Mary Denise McCabe-Edwards, 64, Colleen McKinney, 101.
South Kortright Central School
Budget: Yes, 146; No, 68.
Proposition: Bus and two minivans purchase: Yes, 168; No, 46.
School board (1): Kevin Hitt, 67, Stephen Tucker, 89, Janet Beken Smith, 55.
Stamford Central School
Budget: Yes, 82; No, 69
Propositions: Bus purchase: Yes, 87; No, 63. Tractor purchase: Yes, 82; No, 66. Establish a $5 million capital reserve fund: Yes, 84; No, 65.
School board (2): Catherine Snyder, 118, Christopher Albano, 114.
Walton Central School
Budget: Yes, 233; No, 105.
Propositions: Bus purchase: Yes, 227; No, 106. Ogden Free Library: Yes, 210; No, 128.
School board (2): Allison D. Rigas, 281; Michelle L. Bowker, 245; Ryan J. Huber, 156; Bruce E. Dolph, 205.
OTSEGO COUNTY
Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School
Budget: Yes, 153; No, 51.
Proposition: Two bus purchases: Yes, 152; No, 47. Use a capital reserve fund to purchase a tractor: Yes, 145; No, 45.
School board (1 five-year term, 1 one-year term): Adrienne Haig, 118, Amy Garretson, 101, Megan G. Bosc, 143.
Cooperstown Central School
Budget: Yes, 325; No, 47.
Proposition: Bus lease: Yes, 328; No, 43. Village Library: Yes, 329; No, 42
School board (2): Pete Iorizzo, 309.
Edmeston Central School
Budget: Yes, 87; No, 18.
Proposition: Using capital fund to purchase buses: Yes, 90; No, 15. Bus purchase: Yes, 92; No, 13.
School board (2): Christina Staples, 91; Jeremy Robinson, 88.
Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School
Budget: Yes, 63; No, 22.
School board (2): Brenda Friedel, 74.
Laurens Central School
Budget: Yes, 126; No, 11.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 126; No, 8. Create a $3 million capital reserve fund: Yes, 119; No, 12. $11.5 million capital project: Yes, 115; No, 13.
School board (1): Margaret Wikoff, 124.
Morris Central School
Budget: Yes, 93; No, 24.
Proposition: Bus purchase: Yes, 98; No, 19.
School board (2): Mary Dugan, 105; Teresa DeLaurentiis, 96.
Oneonta City School District
Budget: Yes, 270; No, 98
Proposition: Vehicle purchase: Yes, 281; No, 79
School board (3): Maureen Artale, 305; Eamonn Hinchey, 304; Ryan Swan, 305.
Schenevus Central School
Budget: Yes, 117; No, 41
Proposition: School bus purchase: Yes, 115; No, 41.
School board (1): Timothy Walke, 135.
Unatego Central School
Budget: Yes, 126; No, 31.
Proposition: Library tax levy for Harris and Unadilla public libraries: Yes, 118; No, 40.
School board (1): Jilene Nordberg, 134.
SCHOHARIE COUNTY
Gilboa-Conesville Central School
Budget: Yes, 69; No, 21.
Propositions: Expend capital reserve to purchase bus: Yes, 71; No, 19.
School board (1): Stephanie Bruck, 74.
Schoharie Central School
Budget: Yes, 182; No, 127.
Propositions: Purchase two buses: Yes, 193; No, 117; Schoharie Free Library budget: Yes, 195; No, 115.
School board (3): Tara Barton, 219; Daniel Guasp, 207; Emily Gigandet, 243.