Robust participation occurs in school district elections

WARREN COUNTY | School district budgets throughout the region, drafted to stay under the state's tax cap, generally passed by wide margins. With ballots mailed to area households due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting participation was three to four times the traditional turnout for the election. The time required to count and verify the ballots also set a record. School districts in the area each employed up to a dozen or more inspectors conducting and monitoring the process, which started at 5 p.m. June 16, which was the deadline for ballots to arrive by mail. North Warren Central School took four hours to release their results, and several school districts in the Glens Falls region took far longer. Relatively few of the school board seats were contested. Many of the incumbent school board candidates were re-elected. One exception was in the Lake George School District, where board member Tom Segulgic lost his re-election bid in a race that four candidates sought two seats. Newcomers Rosemarie Earl and Jeannine Bieber, who were backed by the Lake George United for Education citizens group, won the race for two seats. The organization sued the Lake George school board and administration, contending that they broke the state's Open Meeting Laws in deciding to impose an administrative "realignment' that eliminated the vice principal's position. Here are the results of the school districts in northern Warren County: North Warren Central School District 2020-21 budget: $13,899,750. Tax levy: $8,880,750, an increase of 1.25%. Yes votes: 762; No votes: 189; a differential of 80.1% to 19.9%. With three seats open, incumbents John Maday, Mike Erickson and Cortney Swan received 780, 671 and 634 votes respectively and were re-elected; newcomer Lindsay Swan received 610 votes. Warrensburg Central School District 2020-21 Budget: $21,592,635. Tax levy: $7,911,737, an increase of 1.75%. Yes votes: 644; No votes: 253; a differential of 71.8% to 28.2%. Bus lease proposition: Yes votes: 730; No votes: 253; a differential of 81.8% to 18.2%. School board election: With three seats open, incumbent board president Doug West; former school board member Elaine Cowin; and board newcomer Laurie Rinke, a co-director of Echo Lake Camp, were re-elected with 681, 669 and 631 votes respectively; and Maria Beadnell, a write in candidate, received 59 votes. West and Cowin are to serve three-year terms; Rinke will complete the final year of Rob Frasier's term. The proposition for Richards Library to tax school district residents a levy of $214,030 for operating expenses, an increase of 20% over last year, was approved by a vote of 538 Yes, 357 No: a 60% to 40% margin. The library's tax levy has exceeded the state-mandated 2 percent tax cap each year since 2016. Lake George Central School District 2020-21 budget: $23,909,749. Tax levy: $20,210,100, an increase of 1.5%. Yes votes: 1,302; No votes: 561; a differential of 70% to 30%. School board election: Newcomers Rosemarie Earl and Jeannine Bieber won the two seats with 1,174 and 977 votes respectively; incumbent Tom Seguljic was was unseated and newcomer Jay Salmon was unsuccessful. They received 704 and 480 votes respectively. Proposition to purchase two 60-passenger school buses for up to $231,452 combined. Yes votes: 1,277; No votes: 576; a 69% to 31% differential. Johnsburg Central School District 2020-21 budget: $11,406,114. Tax levy: $6,110,229, an increase of 2.29%. Yes votes: 226 votes; No votes: 32; a differential of 87.6% to 12.4%. School board election: Three seats open, three candidates: incumbents Tom Ordway, Erwin Morris and Tara Sears were re-elected with 218, 216 and 210 votes respectively. Bolton Central School District 2020-21 budget: $9,757,046. Tax levy: $7,848,787, an increase of 1.94%. Yes: 432 votes; No: 186 votes; a differential of 70% to 30%. School board: Incumbent Jesse Foy and newcomer Timothy Daken were elected to three-year terms, receiving 548 and 513 votes respectively.

Signup for our newsletter

Robust participation occurs in school district elections

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS