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School budgets pass easily at all 5 Orleans County districts

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2025 at 10:26 pm

ALBION – The Albion school district budget at $44,750,485 was resoundingly approved, 231-48, an 82.8 percent approval rate.

The budget holds the line on the tax levy, with no increase for the 17th time in the past 19 years.

Other propositions include:

  • Authorization to spend $1 million for new buses (Passed 243-45)
  • Authorization to collect $657,560 for Hoag Library (Passed 222-65)
  • Establish a capital improvements reserve fund (Passed 225-59)
  • Establish a technology reserve fund not to exceed $3 million (Passed 228-59)
  • Approval of multi-year transportation contract with Student Transportation of America (Passed 230-44)

Three people were also elected to the Board of Education.

Lauren Stirk (248 votes) and John Kast (241 votes) were elected to five-year terms. Chris Kinter (189 votes) was elected to a two-year term.

HOLLEY – The school district’s proposed $30,774,000 budget passed with 260 voting yes and 88 opposing.

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.

Other propositions include:

  • Proposition Two (Passed 249 to 98) – Authorization to purchase school buses and similar vehicles at an estimated maximum cost of $250,200.
  • Proposition Three (Passed 267 to 78) – 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.

The vote totals include:

  • Tracy Van Ameron – 263 (3-year term)
  • Jessica L. Sniatecki – 244 (3-year term)
  • Stephanie Merkley – 221 (2-year term)
  • Janet Klossner – 65 write-ins (1-year term)

KENDALL – Voters gave strong support for a proposed $21,424,159 budget. It passed, 175 to 61.

The budget will increase the tax levy by 2.95 percent or another $147,922 to $5,162,224. The district’s tax rate of $10.60 per $1,000 of assessed property is amongst the lowest in the region, Kendall school officials said.

Other propositions include:

  • Proposition 2 (Passed 186 to 61) – Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund Usage to allow spending up to $350,000 to purchase purchase of transportation vehicles to replace existing vehicles in the transportation program.
  • Proposition 3 (Passed 184 to 64) – Establish a Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund at a sum not to exceed $10 million. It will be used towards future vehicle purchases.
  • Proposition 4 (Passed 190 to 58) – Building Capital Reserve Fund Usage to allow an increase to the local funding of the $12.68 million capital improvement project. The sum may not exceed $260,000.
  • Board of Education , 1 open seat – Bryan Hardenbrook was elected to a 5-year term with 170 votes to 74 for Scott Martin.

LYNDONVILLE – The budget at $17,474,375 was approved, 216 to 103.

The budget decreases spending by 1.1 percent. Property taxes will go up 1.0 percent from $4,711,576 to $4,758,692. Lyndonville is $142,007 under its allowable tax cap.

Other propositions include:

  • Proposition #2 (Passed 235 to 88) – Approval to purchase one, 64-passenger school bus for use in the transportation program of the District, at a maximum estimated cost of $183,000.
  • Proposition #3 (Passed 221 to 97) – Permission to establish a capital reserve fund, “Transportation Vehicle Reserve Fund.” The ultimate amount of the fund shall be no greater than $900,000.
  • Proposition #4 (Passed 223 to 96) – Authorization to establish a “Building Capital Reserve Fund” at no greater than $4 million.
  • Proposition #5 (Passed 203 to 121) – Funding for Yates Community Library at $146,722.

There are four candidates for three 3-year terms on the board. The candidates in the top three with votes are elected:

  • Vernon Fonda, 202 votes
  • James Houseman, 196 votes
  • Joanne Suhr, 176 votes
  • William Jurinich, 169 votes

MEDINA – The Medina school district’s $46,648,693 budget passed 233 to 96. That puts the approval at 70.8 percent of the voters.

Overall spending is up 10.6 percent or by $4,485,772 from the $42,162,921 in 2024-25. However, the tax levy would increase by 2.0 percent from $8,990,990 to $9,170,809 and is $124,272 under the district’s allowable tax limit of $9,295,081.

Board of Education (Two terms for 3 years)

  • Donnell Holloway, 247 votes
  • Kristen Grose, 241 votes