Across the Southern Tier, many people came out to cast their ballots on their district’s spending plan for the 2015-2016 school year.
The Tioga Central School District’s proposed 30 percent tax levy increase did not get the super-majority required to pass. 621 people voted for the budget and 559 voted against it, but the budget required a 60 percent super-majority to break the tax levy cap, which was set at negative 1.49 percent. The district was counting votes on the proposed tax levy increase until 11 last night. Superintendent Scot Taylor said roughly 300 taxpayers normally vote on the school budget, but, 1,180 taxpayers cast their vote yesterday. Now, the school board has three options. The board can submit a different budget, re-submit the same budget or move to a contingency budget. The contingency budget would require more than $900,000 worth of cuts. The cuts would include closing the swimming pool, laying off staff, cutting a principal and reverting to half-day kindergarten. A contingency budget would also entirely eliminate extra-curricular programs– including clubs and sports. In addition, three new school buses– that were intended to replace aging vehicles– would not be purchased. Taylor said the school board would move swiftly to choose an option for moving forward. He said a decision would be made by Friday about whether to use a contingency budget or not.
Other local school budget results in Tioga County include:
– Owego-Apalachin which voted to pass their budget with 60 percent approval. The OA Bus Replacement Program was approved at 66%. The Apalachin Library Funding was approved with 54% voting in favor. And both incumbents were re-elected to the Board of Education. John Crosby received 825 votes, while David Barton received 838 votes.
– Newark Valley also voted to pass their budget, which included a 1.5 percent tax levy increase and 2.41 percent total budget increase.
– Candor passed their budget as well
