Holley proposes 1.49 percent tax increase in school budget
Voters will elect 4 members to Board of Education
HOLLEY – Voters in the Holley school district today will vote on a proposed $30,774,000 budget, as well as other propositions and will also elect four members to the Board of Education.
The budget increases spending by 3.91 percent or $1,159,000 from the $29,615,000 in 2024-25.
The tax levy will increase 1.49 percent from $7,952,214 to $8,070,702. That is $212,931 under the district’s allowable tax cap, Holley school officials said.
Voting is today from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley Middle/High School Foyer.
The budget continues all existing school day academic programs and courses. State aid covers 70.3 percent of the budget and Holley is budgeting an increase in state funds from $20,725,520 to $21,620,241.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to elevate the educational experience in Holley, we’ve approached this year’s planning with a renewed focus on innovation, growth and excellence,” district superintendent Karri Schiavone and BOE President Anne Winkley wrote in a message to the community. “Our goal is not only to sustain high-quality learning, but to elevate it – providing new opportunities that inspire students, support educators, and engage our community.”
The positions include:
Proposition One – Budget at $30,774,000
Proposition Two – Authorization to purchase school buses and similar vehicles at an estimated maximum cost of $250,200.
Proposition Three – Authorization to collect $212,394 for Community Free Library, which is up $5,554 or by 2.7 percent.
Board of Education – There are four seats up for election for the Board of Education. Three names are on the ballot. A write-in will determine at least one of the seats. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will each serve a three-year term. The candidate with the third highest votes will serve a two-year term and the fourth-highest vote-getter will serve a one-year term.
Candidates on the ballot include:
Tracy Van Ameron – A senior scientist in Software Engineering at L3Harris, Van Ameron is currently on the BOE. She and her husband Jeremy have three children.
“As a parent of three very different children, I have found myself invested in many aspects of education including general education, accelerated programs, special education, Career and Technical Education, arts and music and sports,” Van Ameron stated in the school’s newsletter. “I have learned a tremendous amount through my children by being involved in their education.”
Jessica L. Sniatecki – The Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Healthcare Studies at SUNY Brockport, Sniatecki also is a current member of the Holley Board of Education. She and her husband Anthony have a daughter who is a second-grader at Holley.
“I believe that the top priority of the district should be preparing its students for successful futures,” Sniatecki stated in the newsletter. “This requires that schools are accessible and welcoming to all students, flexible in their educational approaches to both challenge high-achieving students and provide support for those who need it, able to hire and retain quality school staff, and work in partnership with parents and community members to facilitate student success.”
Stephanie Merkley – An employee at Liberty Pumps in Bergen, Merkley is married with two daughters. She is currently on the Board of Education.
“I have worked as a substitute for the school in years past,” she stated in the newsletter. “I had two children, and several nieces and nephews attend the school, and I’m looking to assist the town in any way possible in ensuring all children are given the benefit of an education they deserve. I have seen different sides of the school environment, and I think this opportunity will allow me to bring that experience forward in a way that will benefit all students.”
