Voters have say today at 5 school districts with budgets, propositions and candidates

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2024 at 7:50 am

It’s election and budget vote day at the five school districts in Orleans County. Voters must be at least 18 and have lived in their district for at least 30 days prior to today’s vote.

Here is a rundown of the budgets and ballots at the five districts in Orleans County:

• ALBION – The proposed $42,320,666 budget for 2024-25 keeps the tax levy at $8,449,039 and increases spending by 1.2 percent. This is now the 16th time in the past 18 years that taxes have either stayed the same or decreased. Albion’s budget is $323,436 under the allowable tax cap of $8,772,476.

The budget vote will be from noon to 8 p.m. and will be held at the Hoag Library instead of the at the school district’s conference room. The district currently is undergoing a big construction project.

Voters will also see a separate proposition to make bus purchases up to $650,000 from reserve funds, and a proposition also to establish a capital improvement reserve fund for up to $15 million.

There also is a proposition to collect $664,510 for Hoag Library, which is up 1.5 percent from the $654,100 in 2023-24.

There are two seats up for election. Long-time board member David Sidari isn’t seeking re-election. Linda Weller, a current member, is seeking another five-year term. She is joined on the ballot by Tim McMurray, Derek Reiner and Kelly Kirby.

• HOLLEY – The proposed $29,615,000 district budget represents a 2.4 percent spending increase with taxes up by 1.49 percent. Holley also will have a proposition to authorize spending up to $363,000 to replace school buses, and a proposition to collect $206,840 for the Community Free Library. The library funding is up from $200,815.

There are five candidates for four positions up for election for the Board of Education. The candidates include Salvatore DeLuca Jr., Joseph Flanagan, Allysia Pogel, Jennifer Reisman and Shannon Brett.

The three candidates with the highest number of votes will each serve a three-year term. The candidate with the fourth highest total will serve a two-year term.

Voting is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley Middle/High School Foyer.

• KENDALL – The district is presenting a proposed $20,921,832 budget that calls for a 1 percent increase in the tax levy.

The school budget represents a 2.5 percent spending increase, which district superintendent Nick Picardo said reflects increases in special education enrollment, benefit expenses, and year-over-year merit raises.

Voting is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kendall Town Hall.

Besides the budget, voters will be asked whether to authorize up to $350,000 from the Transportation Bus Reserve to purchase transportation vehicles.

Two candidates also are running for one five-year on the Board of Education. Chaley Swift isn’t seeking re-election to her seat on the board. The candidates include Colleen Dorney and Scott Martin.

• LYNDONVILLE – The school district is proposing a $17,664,583 budget for the 2024-25 school year that increases spending by 4.3 percent. The budget would raise taxes by 1 percent or by $46,649 to $4,711,576.

District Superintendent Sharon Smith said the budget keeps robust academic and extracurricular programs for students. She noted AP and college classes are available at no charge to students, while music, the arts and athletics remain a priority. Smith also noted the budget continues to offer free breakfast and lunch for all students, keeps a school resource officer, and has the district geared up for a capital project that could start in the fall.

Voting will be from noon to 8 p.m. in the school’s Stroyan Foyer.

The district will also present a proposition for funding the local Yates Community Library, with an increase from $124,808 to $135,316.

There are also six candidates for three positions on the Board of Education that are three-year terms. The candidates include George Avery, Megan Bruning, Susan Hrovat, Ted Lewis, Steven Vann and Patrick Whipple.

• MEDINA – The school district is proposing a $42,162,921 budget for the 2024-25 school year that increases spending by 5.2 percent or $2,067,106 from the $40,095,815 in the current school year.

The budget proposes a 2.0 percent tax increase, up from $8,814,697 to $8,990,990. This is the 15th consecutive year Medina is under a state-imposed tax cap of about 2 percent, said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

The budget and the election for two board of education members goes to a vote from noon to 8 p.m. at the District Office, 1 Mustang Drive.

The budget maintains all academic, extra-curricular and athletic programs, including modified sports and clubs, Kruzynski stated in a letter to the community.

The district will offer bussing to all students next school year. Medina for about a dozen years has had a single bus run in the morning and afternoon, with an expanded walk zone – 2 miles for students in middle and high school, and 1 mile for those in elementary school.

Medina will add more busses next year and continue with the one morning and afternoon bus runs. It will cost about $525,000 with district reserves covering the cost in 2024-25. After that, state aid will pay 90 percent of the cost, Kruzynski said.

There are two candidates for two open seats on the board. Alissa Mitchell and Jennifer Buondonno are both current members of the board.