Canton school budget passes with a 27-vote margin
May 21—CANTON — Canton Central School voters passed the $41,825,000 budget for the 2024-25 school year by just 27 votes Tuesday night.
Of the 549 votes cast Tuesday and through absentee ballots, 288 voted yes and 261 voted no.
"We knew it was going to be close," Canton Central School Superintendent Susan Todd said. "It was a challenging budget."
The budget includes a 6.5% tax increase.
"We certainly appreciate everyone who came out to vote," Todd said. "We will have to do some long-term planning over the summer."
In 2023, with 73 fewer voters than Tuesday, voters approved a $37 million budget by a vote of 355 yes to 94 no.
Along with the tax increase, the budget includes a $5,964,628 contribution from the unreserved fund balance, and the elimination of five positions. The positions to be eliminated include two teachers from Banford Elementary School, one teacher from McKenney Middle School, and two teacher aides.
Also on Tuesday, voters approved a bus proposition to purchase three buses for a total of $595,000, with 354 yes votes to 191 no.
The library proposition for an increase of $29,107 to its levy passed 352 yes to 195 no.
The additional money will be used to cover operating costs, including minimum wage increases, building costs, supplies and software charges. It will bring the total library levy up to $449,116.
There were four school board seats open and four candidates. Three seats were for a full term. The lowest vote-getter will serve a one-year term
The voter totals were:
Christina Martin 427, Wendy Todd 420, Victor Rycroft 381 and Sue Toshack 379.
Board members voted unanimously to accept the results at a Board of Education meeting following the vote.
