BROADALBIN - Broadalbin-Perth Central School District residents rejected a proposed $28 million budget Tuesday and replaced an 18-year school board veteran.
The proposed budget, which carried an estimated 13.9 percent tax levy increase and included teacher layoffs, was voted down by a count of 768-684. It was the only budget voted down among Fulton County's school districts and was the second straight B-P budget rejected by district residents.
"It's tough," said Superintendent Stephen Tomlinson. "Certainly, the district is a very strong district, and we will move forward."
Budgets from the Mayfield, Northville and Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School Districts, as well as a budget from the Wheelerville Union Free School, passed, as did a budget from the Wells Central School District in southern Hamilton County.
Voters at Broadalbin-Perth also voted out Board President Sam Jackling, who has been a board member for 18 years. His five-year seat will be filled by Ed Szumowski, who received 935 votes.
Joe Renaud, who received the second-highest total of votes, will fill a one-year board slot that is a continuation of former board member Thomas Hart's unexpired term. Renaud's 778 votes trumped Jackling's 717.
"I'm more disappointed the budget went down," Jackling said Tuesday night.
The board can now do one of three things: put the same budget back up for a second vote, cut the budget further and put it up to a vote, or adopt a contingency budget. Contingency budgets are prepared according to a state formula; in some cases, they can be larger than the proposed budgets they replace.
Tomlinson said a special board meeting will take place Thursday morning to determine the district's next course of action. He said it was impossible for him to know what course the board might take.
The district conducted numerous public forums and budget meetings before Tuesday's vote, and Tomlinson said he was content with the way voters had spoken out.
"What we are pleased with is that so many people came out and expressed their opinions," Tomlinson said.
The budget proposal included 19 layoffs, including 10 teachers.
Voters approved a proposition that will allow the district to buy three new 66-passenger buses.
In other districts in Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties:
Mayfield
Voters approved the Mayfield Central School District's $17 million budget by a vote of 292-137.
The budget calls for a 2.9 percent tax levy increase. Voters also approved a proposition that will allow the district to create and fund a bus reserve account with a $1 million limit and re-elected Board President Ernest Clapper. Clapper received 355 votes, while challenger Frederick Castiglione received 65.
Northville
The Northville Central School District's $9.3 million budget was approved by a vote of 255-142.
The budget carries a 3.5 percent tax levy increase. Voters passed the library budget by a count of 236-142, approved the purchase of school buses and a minivan 241-123, and elected newcomer Kirianne Weaver to the board.
Oppenheim-Ephratah
The Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School District's $8.3 million budget was approved by voters by a count of 106-97.
The budget calls for a 1.5 percent tax levy increase. Residents also elected incumbent David Rackmyre and newcomer Jennifer Frasier to the board.
Wheelerville
Wheelerville Union Free School voters approved a $4.1 million budget that carries a 4.5 percent tax levy decrease by a vote of 98-18.
Frances Miller and Judi Kane, both incumbents running unopposed, won re-election to the board.
Wells
Voters in the Wells Central School District approved a $4.9 million budget by a count of 122-70.
The budget carries a 7.9 percent tax levy increase. Newcomer David Woodward won a board seat that was vacated by Avis Warner.
Fonda-Fultonville
After the final votes were tallied, Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Superintendent James Hoffman was able to breathe a sigh of relief two propositions were ratified by the district's voters.
The $25.7 million budget was approved by a margin of 226-104. The budget calls for a 2.9 percent tax levy increase and $443,110 in additional spending.
District voters also approved the proposition allocating $13,500 to the Frothingham Free Library in Fonda and $3,800 to the Fort Hunter Free Library, 262-61.
"You always hope the voters agree with you and I'm glad that they did," Hoffman said.
The district involved many additional people in the budget process this year, he said.
"It was a phenomenal collaborative effort on the part of all involved," Board of Education Vice President Carol DeBonte said.
Sitting school board President Rodney Simonds and DeBonte were re-elected to three-year terms with 251 and 230 votes, respectively. Connie Conte was elected to the board with 207 votes. Conte will take over the seat currently occupied by Joan Kark-Wren, who didn't seek re-election.
Fort Plain
The Fort Plain Central School District's 2009-10 budget was approved by the voters, but they weren't as kind to the bus proposition.
Fort Plain's proposed $17.46 million budget was ratified, 344-301. The budget calls for a 1.1 percent spending increase over this year and carries a 0.02 percent tax levy increase.
The $485,000 bus proposition, which called for the district to buy three full-size buses and one half-size bus with a wheelchair lift and flexible floor plan, and one smaller passenger vehicle was defeated by 28 votes, 327-299.
Louis "Rusty" Capece was elected to the school board with 407 votes and incumbent Mary Beth Hudyncia was re-elected with 346 votes. Both will serve three-year terms. Jeffrey Jones received 337 votes and Dianne Raffa tallied 176.
Canajoharie
Canajoharie Central School District residents approved the district's $18.8 million 2009-10 spending plan 365-247.
The approved budget is up 6.37 percent from the 2008-09 budget and carries a tax levy of $6.2 million, which is a 4.2 percent increase over the current budget.
Incumbent school board Vice President Eric Trahan ran unopposed and will begin another a five-year term.
St. Johnsville
The St. Johnsville Central School District's $9.4 million budget proposal for 2009-10 was approved 194-166.
The $2.3 million tax levy calls for a 1.91 percent increase from the current budget.
Patricia Christensen was elected to the Board of Education.
Amsterdam
The Greater Amsterdam Central School District's $55.3 million budget for 2009-10 was voted down 831-799, with two additional propositions also failing to get approval.
The district's $68,600 proposal to purchase two Chevrolet Suburban buses failed 944-600, and an annual tax levy to support the Walter Elwood museum was shot down, 1,029-531.
Gina DeRossi was re-elected to the Board of Education with 1,006 votes and Raymond Crosby was elected to the seat being vacated by James Walrath, who did not seek re-election, with 603 votes. Ann Peconie received 542 votes and Amy Motyl received 531.
