School budget night: everything passes

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - School budgets passed in northern New York Tuesday.

Voters in 33 school districts in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties cast budget votes Tuesday. In many cases, they also voted on things like buying new buses, funding local libraries, and picking members of their school board.

Watertown’s hotly contested race for school board saw incumbent Jason Harrington and John Cain III winning three year terms, and Milly Smith winning a term through June of next year.

Watertown’s budget passed 798-345, and voters agreed to a $1.4 million project for improvements at the high school and turf field.

Voters in the South Lewis school district approved their budget, 245-77. They also agreed to buy five buses and increase library funding. Incumbent Thomas Burmingham was re-elected to his third term on the board of education.

Madrid-Waddington voters approved a new budget, 129-28. They also approved buying three buses and a truck, and spending up to $100,000 on window work.

Lowville’s $30.1 million budget was approved. Stephanie Houser Fouse, Cheyenne Steria and Steven Fuller were elected to the school board.

Voters approved a new budget for the Colton-Pierrepont school district, 159-41. They also said yes to a $12 million project to make various school improvements.

Harrisville’s budget passed 82-23, and voters agreed to buy two buses.

Voters in the Edwards-Knox school district approved a new budget, 114-24. They also said yes to buying two buses.

Lyme Central’s budget passed 159-32. Voters also approved funding for the Lyme Free Library.

Lisbon Central’s budget passed, but not by much. The vote was 145-138, the slimmest margin Tuesday. It wasn’t immediately clear why the vote was so close.

Morristown’s budget was approved by voters, 131-41. Voters also approved funding the local library.

In Ogdensburg, the school tax rate is likely to go down as assessments in the city increase, because of a citywide revaluation. Voters in Ogdensburg passed their budget 189-43, and approved a capital project.

Thousand Islands Central voters said yes to a budget that reduced spending and taxes, 228-28. They also approved increased funding for three area libraries. Write-in candidate Brooke Roes joined Erin Churchill and TImothy Wiley in being elected to the school board.

Voters in the Norwood-Norfolk school district approved their budget 165-20. They also said yes to buying four buses and setting up two capital reserve funds.

Brasher Falls Central Schools’ budget passed 165-22. Voters also approved buying school buses and setting up a capital reserve fund.

Belleville-Henderson Central’s budget was approved 153-65. Voters also agreed to fund three local libraries.

Voters in the Alexandria Central school district approved their budget, 265-47. They also agreed to buy two buses, increase library funding and establish a $2 million capital reserve fund. Emily Chase, Christine Lingenfelter and Chris Symenow were elected to the school board.

Canton Central’s budget was approved 355-94. Voters also approved the purchase of three school buses.

Massena voters approved their budget, 357-62. Voters also approved the creation of a capital reserve fund, and Zachary Monroe and Joyce Giroux were picked for the school board.

Beaver River’s budget passed, 469-225. Holly Aucter was picked for the school board.

Hermon Dekalb voters agreed to a new budget 160-24. They also said yes to buying two buses, and to funding for a public library. Michael Robinson, Ross Putman and John Wright all won seats on the school board.

Sackets Harbor’s budget was approved 123-22. Voters also said yes to buying a school bus, and to money for the East Hounsfield Library.

Voters in South Jefferson passed a budget 231-76. They also approved the purchase of four buses and an increase in funding for the Adam s Center Free Library. Carrie Mangino was elected to the school board.

Carthage voters passed their budget 260-73. They also approved funding for libraries in Carthage and Black River, and picked Jonathan Schell, Dr. Janice Gravely an d Rob Wilson for the school board.

Hammond’s budget was approved 74-17. Voters also approved an increase in funding for their local library.

Potsdam voters passed their budget 291-59. They also approved buying two buses. They only had two candidates for three seats, Keith Sapp and Jarrod Davis, who will be joined by a write-in candidate, Rick Miller.

Copenhagen needed 60 percent of the vote Tuesday night because of a quirk in the state’s “tax cap” law which left the district exceeding the cap. They got it, as the budget passed by a lopsided 96-16.

Voters in the Clifton-Fine district passed the budget 151-25. Melissa Streeter and Lyndsay Macagg were elected to the school board.

Parishville-Hopkinton’s budget passed 226-66. Christina Snell and Jared Remington were elected to the school board.

LaFargeville’s budget passed 47-13. Voters also approved a capital reserve fund up to $3 million, 51-8.

Voters in the General Brown school district approved their budget 242-82, and also said yes to buying four school buses, 255-62.

Indian River Central’s budget - the largest in the north country at $98 million - passed 133-19.

A proposal to increase funding for four public libraries by a total of $60,000 also passed Indian River voters, 132-20.

Voters in Heuvelton approved their budget, agreed to create a capital reserve fund up to $6.5 million, created the position of non-voting student member on the school board and selected Jamie Lopez and Michael Maccaulay for school board.

In the Gouverneur school district three school board seats were up for election. Brooke Bush, David Fenlong, and Todd Bates — all incumbents — were reelected, beating out two challengers and a write-in candidate. The $42.6 million budget passed 208-116.