School Votes To Be Held Tuesday
By S. Alexander Gerould, agerould@post-journal.com
POSTED: May 19, 2008
Schools in the region will be a busy place Tuesday, as residents throughout Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties will go to the polls to vote on their school district’s proposed 2008-09 budget and any open Board of Education seats. The following is a brief synopsis of what each district’s proposed spending plan will look like May 20.
Jamestown: With a proposed 2008-09 budget of $72,346,197, residents in the Jamestown Public Schools District are expected to see no tax levy increase. Residents will also decide on three open Board of Education seats. Incumbents Tim Thomas and Tom Pope are seeking re-election, while newcomer Paul Abbott, a member of the Jamestown Police Department, is seeking the third seat.
Southwestern: Even though the 2008-09 budget, totaling $24,357,155, will increase 3.45 percent from 2007-08, residents are expected to see a decrease to the district’s tax levy. Residents will also vote on the purchase of three, 65-passenger buses totaling $294,000 and a $4,810,5587 capital project. With three open board seats, only incumbent Dan Berry is seeking re-election. The other two spots will be filled by write-in candidates.
Frewsburg: Totaling $14,409,112, the 2008-09 spending plan is an increase of 7.69 percent from 2007-08. With two seats open on the Board of Education, Chad Chitester, Tom Fenton, incumbent, Jacqueline Cole and Alex DiMaio are running. Eric Wright, vice president, is not seeking re-election.
Chautauqua Lake: Board of Education members approved a $18,684,237 spending plan for 2008-09, a 3.55 percent change from 2007-08. After incumbent David Foster withdrew his name from consideration for three open board seats, Debra Cross-Fuller and Jay Baker, incumbents, and newcomer Jason Delcamp will be seeking election.
Clymer: Clymer residents will vote on a $9,547,960 2008-09 budget, a 2.14 percent increase from 2007-08. The proposed spending plan will also feature a 3.47 increase to the district’s tax levy. With Board of Education member Clifford Foster not seeking re-election, a write-in candidate will be selected at the budget vote.
Bemus Point: District officials approved a $12,038,510 spending plan to place before voters. The proposed budget will be a 2.6 percent increase from 2007-08. School officials are also calling for no tax levy increase. Residents will also decide on the purchase of three, 65-passenger buses, totaling $285,000. Incumbent Board of Education member John Sitzenstatter is not seeking re-election. Meanwhile, incumbent Dustin Nelson and newcomer Kerry Santilli will seek the two open board seats.
Falconer: School officials are calling for no increase to the district’s tax levy after Board of Education members passed a $19,364,991 budget, a decrease from 2007-08’s total of $19,367,601. Incumbent Board of Education member Todd Beckerink is seeking re-election.
Panama: Up 2.4 percent from 2007-08, Panama Central School’s proposed 2008-09 spending plan will total $12,197,042. School officials expect the district’s tax levy to increase around 2 percent. Five individuals are running for three Board of Education seats. Robert Delahoy and Peter Komarek, incumbents, are seeking re-election, while newcomers Greg Hudson, Thomas Warner and Roberta Caswell are also running.
Sherman: With a budget totalling $8,366,752, an increase of 7.6 percent from 2007-08, Sherman Central School’s proposed spending plan will call for a 3 percent tax levy increase. Gary DeLellis, who is currently filling the a board term, and Randy Boland are seeking election to one open board seat.
Cassadaga Valley: District officials adopted at $19,514,000 budget for 2008-09. This will represent a 5.4 percent increase from 2007-08. Residents will also vote on purchasing school buses and vehicles for district use totaling $112,000. Jeanne Oag, Board of Education incumbent, and Timothy Hays are seeking election to one board seat.
Cattaraugus-Little Valley: A 2.65 percent change from 2007-08’s budget of $18,533,105, means the district’s 2008-09 budget will total $19,024,441. The district’s tax levy will also increase 3.18 percent. Incumbent Jeanette Stein is running unopposed for a Board of Education seat. Jessica Golley and Edwin Wilbur are also running for another open seat.
Randolph: A 4.96 percent increase in the 2008-09 budget, totaling $17,869,217, will bring residents to the polls Tuesday.
Salamanca: Calling for a 7.5 percent tax levy increase, the proposed 2008-09 spending plan for the Salamanca City School District will total $25.7 million, up 7.9 percent from 2007-08. There are six candidates running for two open seats on the Board of Education. They include incumbent Lance Hoag and newcomers Christine Becker, Robin Crouse, Susan Metzler, Patrick Morris and Janice Tinnerman. Thomas Hart is not seeking re-election.
