On Tuesday, May 15, local residents headed to the polls to decide on their district’s proposed 2007-08 school budgets. In Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa and Schuylerville people voted yes more often than no.

The Saratoga Springs City School District’s $104.3 million budget passed 2472-1245. The budget, which residents will be paying roughly $66.5 million of in taxes, represents an increase of 4.2 percent over the present budget.

Residents also approved a $7.4 million capital improvement project that takes advantage of a special one-time grant from EXCEL (Expanding Our Children’s Education and Learning) Aid, and the purchase of 10 full-sized buses and two 24-passenger buses to replace old vehicles with high mileage.

In addition, Regina Gapczynski, Ernest Gailor and Chuck Phillips were elected to the board of education. A total of six people ran for the three vacancies left by Russell Danforth, Paul Stevens and Glen Face, who all decided to retire.

Superintendent John MacFadden said everyone involved worked diligently to produce a responsibly priced budget which will meet the district’s needs.

“I’m very pleased with the outcome,” he said. “I’m always optimistic, but never certain.”  

MacFadden said district residents didn’t always decide on the school’s budget; it used to be the board’s job. Since it has been changed to a public vote, MacFadden said the school is 11 for 11 on passing budgets. 

The Ballston Spa School District’s $66 million budget passed 1335-1106, nowhere near as close as last year’s six-vote nail biter. The budget represents a 6.1 percent increase over the present budget and is estimated to result in a tax increase of 2 percent.  

Residents also approved propositions regarding the purchase of school buses, the authorization for capital improvements and contributions toward the maintenance and operation of the Ballston Spa Public Library and the Ballston Spa Area Recreation Commission. In addition, two incumbent candidates, Kathleen Jarvis and Patrick Leanza, ran unopposed and were elected to the two available seats on the board.  

Stuart Williams, coordinator of community resources for Ballston Spa, said they are still opening affidavit votes. He said the district is very happy with the budget results.  

“It was where we thought it would be,” Williams said.  

The Schuylerville Central School District’s $29.2 million budget passed 569-208. The budget represents a 3.8 percent increase over the present budget and an average tax rate increase of 1.3 percent. Residents also approved the purchase of school buses. James Burkett ran unopposed and was elected to the one available seat on the board.  

Superintendent Leon Reed said due to retirements and state aid they were able to keep the budget low. In fact, the budget is below contingent levels. Reed said all of the programs currently offered will be maintained, but there will be no new programs.  

More than 70 percent of the people who came out voted yes on the school budget. Reed said he was pleased with the result, but not particularly surprised because nobody showed up at the budget hearings.  

“It was very, very quiet,” Reed said. “It was sort of a vanilla vote. The budget didn’t rile people up and only one person ran. There wasn’t really a whole lot of reason for people to vote no.”