Canajoharie Central School District residents on June 16 approved the district’s 2020-21 school budget by a vote of 283 to 100, a margin of 74 percent.
The approved $22.61 million budget reflects a 0.15 percent spending decrease over the current year’s budget and carries a 2.5 percent tax levy increase.
Canajoharie voters approved a bus proposition by a margin of 322 yes votes to 51 no votes.
The passed proposition allows the district to lease three 66-passenger school buses for a cost of $52,425 for five years.
Residents also approved a non-voting student representative position on the Board of Education by 305 yes votes and 77 no votes and elected current board president Mark Brody to a five-year term on the Board of Education with 300 votes and current board member Heidi Meka to a two-year term with 281 votes. Meka, whose term begins on July 1, 2020, replaces a seat vacated in 2019.
“I would like to thank the community for supporting this great district. It is comforting to know that our students are supported and that they will have a host of opportunities to fulfill their educational, social, and emotional needs,” said Superintendent Dr. Nick Fitzgerald. “This budget was designed to accomplish three goals; maintain and enhance programs for our students, keep the tax levy below the allotted amount, and preserve jobs. With the help of the community, we accomplished all of our goals.”