Latest news with #TomColabufo
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Typically, it is pretty low'; School budget voting turnout trending down in recent years
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Thousands of Central New Yorkers are making their way to the polls Tuesday to approve or reject their school district's proposed budget. This year, Central Square superintendent Tom Colabufo is hoping more people turn out to vote on his district's proposed budget. 'We have 25,000 eligible voters. Last year we had 740 voters turnout. The year before that, we had 425 voters' turnout,' he said. By Tuesday afternoon, the North Syracuse Central School District had a few hundred come out to vote. 'We have 42,000 registered voters here in our district, and last year we had just over 1,800 people turn out to vote,' said district clerk Jilian Herrera. 'We are always trying to encourage voter turnout, but typically it is pretty low.' It's a similar story in Liverpool as well. The school district there shared that they have 36,500 active voters, but 1,491 voted in 2024. Those turnout numbers are surprising for former C-NS teacher Lois Exner. 'It's sad. These kids are our future. I feel very bad. They are missing out on helping our district,' Exner said. Voting started at noon for the East-Syracuse Minoa District. The district was seeing a good turnout when the polls opened. A former teacher in the district is telling us she makes the time to tell people to vote. 'I reminded several of the neighbors this morning, as well as my son, who lives with me. I said Be sure as soon as you get out of work to go vote,' Sandy Hought said. The New Hartford Central School District is also sharing with us that they have 12,528 registered voters. Last year, there were 1,629 people who voted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Square superintendent explains tax levies ahead of school budget voting day
CENTRAL SQUARE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Tuesday, May 20, Central New Yorkers will vote on whether to approve or reject their local school districts budget proposal. Each district with the exception of Syracuse city schools, presents a budget, along with a tax levy that will impact property taxes. Central Square's Superintendent Tom Colabufo is no stranger to getting a school budget passed. This year, his district is looking to keep what's in their budget, much the same as last year. 'We're looking to keep the same number of kids that want to go to city BOCES, which is about 175,' Colabufo said. 'We want to be able to keep our 26 college courses that are free for students. We want to be able to keep a special patrol officer in each of our schools and counselors in our elementary, middle, and high school.' This year, the district has put forth a budget of a little under $104 million. That includes a 6.86% tax levy increase. Colabufo explains how that would impact people's property taxes. 'If somebody has a $200,000 house, it would go up $184 for the year. If they have a $100,000 house, it's $92 dollars. A $300,000 house, it's $276,' Colabufo said. Last year, the districts tax levy was around 4%. They decided to raise it this year because they're getting less aid from the state. 'For a district that roughly gets roughly $60 million in state aid, a year ago we got 4.5% percent state aid. To go from 4.5% out of 60 million dollars, down to 2%, we have to make that money up somewhere. Or we have to look at $2 million worth of cuts,' Colabufo said. So, on Tuesday, voters will decide if they pick up the rest of the bill for the district. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
