Â鶹ÊÓƵ

The Onondaga County district's $39,585,000 proposal, which included a 1.5% tax levy increase, was defeated with 223 yes votes and 252 no votes, or 46.9% approval.

In a news release, Jordan-Elbridge Superintendent James Froio said the district will work with its board of education to "carefully consider next steps." Under state law, the board has three options: present the same budget a second time, present a revised budget or adopt a contingent budget with no tax levy increase. If a second budget proposal is rejected, a contingent one must be adopted.

“Our goal (with the budget) was to protect student opportunities and preserve the quality of education in our schools,� Froio said. “We understand this is a challenging time for many in our community."

Meanwhile, Jordan-Elbridge voters approved propositions allowing the Elbridge Free and Jordan Bramley libraries to spend an additional $10,000 each in 2025-26, and elected Tabitha DelCostillo, Matthew Gardiner and Jodi May to three-year seats on the school board. Sara Aaserud, in fourth place, was elected to a one-year seat that opened when former member Annette Gustafson resigned last year.Ìý

All other local budgets and propositions were passed, including the Auburn Enlarged Central School District's, which comes with a 3.25% tax levy increase.Ìý

All budget proposals except the Southern Cayuga Central School District's required 50% voter approval to pass because their tax levy increases are under the state tax cap. Southern Cayuga's, which includes a 5.25% tax levy increase, required 60% approval due to the increase being over the cap. With 338 "yes" votes out of 544 cast, that proposal was passed with 62% approval.

Auburn's budget of $107,323,677, a spending increase of 2.8%, passed 1,195-808. A proposition for a $7.2 million emergency capital project to replace 100 unit ventilators at Casey Park, Genesee, Herman Avenue and Owasco elementary schools also passed, 1,374-614. The project will not create an additional tax burden on residents.

There were seven candidates for the city's school board, and leading the vote were incumbent Jim Van Arsdale (1,251), newcomer Jason Horbal (1,221) and board Vice President Danielle Wood (1,111). All were therefore elected to three-year terms, while fourth-place candidate Daniel Lovell (901) will serve a one-year term that opened when former board member Freddie Wilson III resigned.Ìý

Dr. Walt Aikman, who spoke with Â鶹ÊÓƵ before walking to Auburn Junior High School for a discussion on trees, said he planned on voting for the budget later that day.

"We have an increase, but I don't really see any way around it, when you look at what inflation has done to our entire economy," he said.Ìý

Aikman said he was impressed by candidates Lovell, Van Arsdale, Bill Andre (859) and Fred Cornelius (647) during a candidate forum this month.Ìý

"I think it's very important to have balance and candid opinions in a school board, and what I saw in the forum certainly shows that that's a possibility with those four," he said.

Jim Wells told Â鶹ÊÓƵ outside of Owasco Elementary School that he would be voting "yes" on the budget.

"If you don't vote for it, there's going to be cuts," he said.Ìý

Wells said he wouldn't be voting for the emergency capital project because he doesn't believe students are in the schools that much during the summer months, so he didn't approve of the expense.

Miki Marshall told Â鶹ÊÓƵ after voting that she approved the budget.

"It's for our children, so we're past the outdated philosophy that we shouldn't be investing in our children," Marshall said. "I think that that's a fair budget."  

Other Cayuga County-area school district vote results

The Cato-Meridian Central School District's $23,484,786 budget passed 228-88. That marks a 1.35% decrease from the current year's budget, but includes a 1.94% taxy levy increase. A proposition to purchase two large school buses, one small bus and one student transport vehicle passed 227-88. Kristin Cox (227), Timothy Hulbert (230) and Amanda Vallee (160) were elected to three-year seats on the district's school board.

The Moravia Central School District's $29,874,130 budget passed 294-173.ÌýThat marks a 7.59% increase from the current year's budget and includes a 2.5% tax levy increase. District propositions to purchase three school buses and to approve a tax levy increase for the Powers Library both passed. Kelly Anderson (224), Travis LeFever (268) and Brian Myers (248) were elected to three-year seats on the district's school board.

The Port Byron Central School District's $27,483,817 budget passed 246-83.ÌýThat marks a 10.5% increase from the current year's budget and includes a 1.2% tax levy increase. District propositions to purchase two school buses and one school van and to increase the Port Byron Library's budget both passed. Todd Delaney (264) and Christopher Recckio (272) were elected to three-year seats on the district's school board.

The Skaneateles Central School District's $43,231,164 budget passed 456-188.ÌýThat marks a 5.52% increase from the current year's budget and includes a 2.17% tax levy increase. District propositions to purchase four school buses and increase funding for the Skaneateles Library both passed. Tim Chiavara (532) and Katie Peck (502) were elected to three-year terms on the district's school board.

The Southern Cayuga Central School District's $20,974,836 budget passed 338-206. That marks a 5.3% increase from the current year's spending and includes a 5.25% tax levy increase. District propositions to purchase three buses and one minivan/SUV, to establish a new capital reserve fund and for the Aurora Free Library and the Hazard Library to each get $7,500 increases all passed. Mark Ferrari (334), Lori Knopp (309) and Janet Lehman (282) were elected to three-year seats on the district's school board.

The Union Springs Central School District's $22,168,202 budget passed 306-60.ÌýThat marks a 5.11% increase from the current year's budget and includes a 3.77% tax levy increase. A proposition for a capital project to renovate the district's athletic facilities and install air conditioning in its gymnasiums, at a maximum cost of $4,747,367, passed 300-64. Propositions to spend $349,476 from the district's Transportation Capital Reserve Fund to acquire two student transport vehicles and for the Springport Free Library to get a $3,500 tax levy increase also both passed. Ross Lawton (278), Robin McKay (287) and Barry Schwarting (295) were elected to three-year seats on the district's school board.

The Weedsport Central School District's $24,206,031 budget passed 262-88.ÌýThat marks a 3% increase from the current year's budget and includes a 2% tax levy increase. District propositions to purchase one school bus and one SUV and to increase funding for Weedsport Free Library from $89,819 to $93,818 per year both passed. Norm Chirco was elected to one five-year seat on the district's school board.