P-J file photo

Chautauqua County school districts took to the voting booths to decide the fates of their respective 2018-19 proposed school budgets Tuesday. Unofficial results were released on Tuesday night while the official results won’t be confirmed until the votes have been canvassed.

The Clymer Central School District fell short of receiving the supermajority approval from voters needed to pass the district’s proposed 2018-19 school budget. The school board had proposed a $11,561,554 spending plan with a tax increase of 13 percent that exceeded the tax cap.

According to unofficial results Tuesday night, 238 votes were cast in favor of the budget while 237 voted against. However, in order for the budget to pass, a supermajority – or 60 percent – was needed.

“We’re going to go back to work,” said Ed Bailey, superintendent of Clymer Central School District.

The district will now be tasked with creating a budget equal or below the state allowed cap of 4 percent. The new budget will be presented on June 11 and voted on by district voters on June 19.

Bailey told The Post-Journal that voting against the tax levy increase would only be “kicking the can down the road one more year.”

Clymer has the option to present the same budget to the voters on June 11, but Bailey implied the district would try to bring a budget under the 4 percent tax cap.

Voters on Tuesday did approve vehicle purchases to not exceed $85,000 with 250 voting in favor and 220 voting against. One board vacancy was up for grabs and David Maleski earned more votes than Bethany Collins with 229 and 222 votes, respectively.

Voters in Ripley and Westfield also voted down proposed budgets Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

In Ripley, voters denied the 2018-19 school budget of $9,219,270 in a 91-90 vote. Voters also denied the establishment of a capital improvements reserve fund not to exceed $500,000 (plus interest earned thereon). Voters approved the purchase of two 65-passenger school buses not to exceed $240,000 and the fire alarm system replacement project. Shaun Waters was voted in to the Ripley Central School District’s board of education.

In Westfield, voters turned down the 2018-19 school budget of $16,716,034, 295 votes to 196. Steve Cockram (366 votes), Deanne K. Manzella (368 votes) and Phyllis A. Hagen (364 votes) were voted in to the Westfield Central School District’s board of education.

The Jamestown Public Schools District proposed a 2018-19 budget of $86,228,702. Voters approved the budget with 419 voting in favor and 63 voting against.

Voters also approved the creation of a capital reserve fund with 427 voting in favor and 61 voting against.

A Student Ex Officio Board of Education member was also approved with 430 voting in favor ad 87 voting against.

The Jamestown Board of Education also had two open seats, Nina Karbacka and Daniel Johnson filled those positions with 410 and 363 votes respectively. Brianne Fadale received 213 votes.

“Thank you Jamestown for overwhelmingly supporting your school budget,” tweeted Bret Apthorpe, superintendent of Jamestown Public Schools.

The Bemus Point Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $15,469,340. Voters approved the budget with 149 voting in favor and 50 voting against.

Voters also approved a bus proposition with 152 voting yes and 47 voting against.

Margaret Spence, 160 votes; John Novotny, 160 votes; and Shawn Hricko, 169 votes were all approved as board members.

The Brocton Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $18,439,528 – up 3.38 percent from the 2017-18 approved budget. Voters approved the budget, with 176 voting in favor and 43 voting against.

Voters also approved the creation of a $3 million Capital Improvements Reserve Fund, with 164 voting in favor and 52 voting against.

With two open board seats, Melissa Seavy and Robert Mead-Colegrove were declared the winners with 151 votes and 130 votes, respectively. Beth Jagoda earned 116 votes.

The Cassadaga Valley Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $22,273,891. Voters approved the budget with 190 voting in favor and 48 against. Voters also approved school bus purchases with 184 in favor and 54 against. Robert Main received 124 votes and Jeanne Oag received 108 votes in the board election.

The Chautauqua Lake Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $23,092,112. Voters approved the budget with 262 voting in favor and 85 voting against.

District residents also voted on school board members with Steve Anderson receiving 147 votes, Michael Ludwig receiving 235 votes and Amy Webb receiving 274 votes.

The Dunkirk City School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $45,728,385. Voters approved the budget with 199 voting in favor and 83 voting against. Voters also approved the creation of a 2018 capital reserve fund.

The Falconer Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $23,134,545. Voters approved the budget with 150 voting in favor and 28 voting against.

The Fredonia Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $32,441,792. Voters approved the budget with 426 voting in favor and 210 voting against.

The Frewsburg Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $17, 741, 437. Voters approved the budget voting 129 in favor and 45 against. Voters also approved bus purchases voting 135 in favor and 39 against. Additionally, district residents approved the creation of a capital reserve fund voting 129 in favor and 44 against.

Chad Chitester and Larry Lodestro also were up for board elections and received 148 and 144 votes, respectively.

The Panama Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $13,876,301. Voters approved the budget with 125 in favor and 10 against.

Voters also decided two board vacancies. Gregory Hudson earned one position with 122 votes and Robert Delahoy earned 15 write in votes earning him the second open position.

The Pine Valley Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $15,833,644. Voters approved the budget with 212 voting in favor and 67 voting against.

The Salamanca City Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $37,141,536. Voters approved the budget with 416 voting in favor and 112 voting against.

Voters also approved Dale Colton and Lance Hoag as board members.

The Sherman Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $10,310,252. Voters approved the budget with 190 voting in favor and 47 voting against.

Voters also approved the creation of a capital reserve fund with 187 voting in favor and 48 against. In addition, voters approved vehicles purchases of $312,000 with 190 voting in favor and 46 voting against.

The Silver Creek Central School District proposed a 2018-19 school budget of $24,516,388. Voters approved the budget with 191 voting in favor and 107 voting against. Voters also approved a vehicle purchase with 227 voting in favor and 71 voting against.

Greg Cole was re-elected to the board of education with 256 votes.

The Southwestern Central School District proposed a budget of $28,687,534. Voters approved the budget with 556 voting in favor and 274 voting against. Voters also approved school bus purchases of $367,998 with 584 voting in favor and 247 voting against.

Voters also approved the inclusion of the Lakewood Memorial Library and the Hazeltine Public Library budgets in the school district’s tax roll with 425 voting in favor and 413 voting against.

The district also filled four at-large board of education vacancies with James Butler receiving 634 votes, Edward Brooks receiving 612, Lisa Yaggi receiving 647 and an additional 109 write-in votes were counted.