School elections move to absentee ballots by mail

School elections move to absentee ballots by mail

FINGER LAKES--While the Finger Lakes region continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, residents will vote for school district budgets and board elections universally through absentee ballot by mail. Many schools across the region have recently adjusted their proposed budgets in anticipation of a reduction in state aid.
In Penn Yan voters will be asked to consider a budget of $37,200,125 for the 2020-21 school year which represents a 2.65 percent increase from the $36,239,453 current year budget. It has been reported that Penn Yan district officials could expect a roughly $700,000 reduction in state funding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The district created a list of reductions to compensate, including reduced travel budgets and putting on hold a number of items.
For the Penn Yan vote there will also be a proposition asking voters if they approve the purchase of five new school busses for a total of $435,000.
"It's kind of crazy that we have to spend the money on absentee ballots but (Gov. Andrew Cuomo) is making us cut money but [increasing] expenses," said Cathleen Milliman, assistant superintendent for business for the Penn Yan School District, previously. Milliman has also said that countywide it is estimated that absentee ballots will cost school districts $400,000 total.
For the school board in Penn Yan there are four positions available after Emily Dinehart submitted her resignation at the last board meeting. Running are Ann Bush, Leslie Elliott, Robin Johnson and David Willson.
The proposed budget for the Dundee Central School District 2020-21 school year totals $19,382,128, a 1.62 percent increase over the $19,073,447 from the current year.
In Dundee there are four candidates running for three positions for the board of education. Jared Webster, Andy Simmons, Rob Neu and Kevin Crofoot will all be on absentee ballots mailed to residents.
Dundee school officials have previously said that they expect a decrease in state aid, with district Superintendent Kelly Houck warning the board of education that "hard work" is in store when it comes to examining the issues the state aid shortfall will create.
"I want to make sure that the public knows that the only way to vote on the school budget and the school board positions is through an absentee ballot," Houck said.
In Hammondsport the proposed district budget for the 2020-21 school year totals $14,887,079 representing a 0.73 percent decrease from the current $14,997,155 budget. According to the Hammondsport newsletter detailing the budget there is one candidate, Lynda S. Lowin, who is running for a seat on the board of education for Hammondsport.
Per the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, all absentee ballots must be physically in hand by a district by 5 p.m. June 9 for votes to be counted. Due to that fact, many school districts have recommended ballots be filled out and returned promptly once they are received in the mail. Many districts have also set up designated drop boxes that will be open June 9 until the 5 p.m. deadline. All qualified voters within school districts will automatically be sent absentee ballots through the mail, which will include return envelopes with postage paid.
For the Watkins Glen school district, the budget being proposed to voters amounts to $26,478,877 which is the same amount that was proposed for the current year budget. Also on the ballot will be a proposal for bus leasing.
Watkins School officials have previously said that they are operating with the assumption there will be a reduction of $500,000 in state foundation aid that will result in a 1.59 percent tax increase of $150,000. The reduction in state aid is a result of a decrease in sales tax revenue caused by the pandemic. State governments are required to pass balanced annual budgets and can not run up deficits, so the loss of money must be compensated for, especially if federal aid is not forthcoming.
Also for Watkins Glen, there are five candidates running for four open board of education seats. Voters will decide from Gloria Brubaker, Kris Clarkson, Kristina Hansen, Kevin Rumsey and Jessica Saks. All seats are for three-year terms.
The Watkins Glen Public Library funding and trustee election will also occur in conjunction with the school vote.
The proposed 2020-2021 budget for the Odessa-Montour School District is $16,904,975 with a $385,233 decrease from the current year's budget of $17,287,208. In total, the decrease represents a 2.21 percent drop.
There are three candidates for three board of education seats in Odessa-Montour, with Jennifer Mosher, Kevin Murphy and William Shrout vying for two three-year terms and one two-year term.
In addition to the budget there are five additional propositions. They include: establishing a capital fund, repair service fund, bus purchase reserve fund, bus purchase and money for the libraries.
Per the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, all absentee ballots must be physically in hand by a district by 5 p.m. June 9 for votes to be counted. Due to that fact, many school districts have recommended ballots be filled out and returned promptly once they are received in the mail. Many districts have also set up designated drop boxes that will be open June 9 until the 5 p.m. deadline located at their district main offices. All qualified voters within school districts will automatically be sent absentee ballots through the mail, which will include return envelopes with postage paid. Included for voter consideration will be school budgets, any individual proposals made by a school district that requires voter approval, and elections for open school board positions.
Anyone who needs assistance is encouraged to contact their district's main office or county board of elections.