Budget, school board election results from Hornell and Wellsville area

Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune

Voters Tuesday approved the Hornell City School District's $44.4 million budget by a wide margin.

Meanwhile, there was very strong turnout in Wellsville, where a crowded school board field brought voters to the polls in big numbers.

Most, but not all, school budgets across the region were approved, as voters across New York state went to the polls to consider spending plans, select school board candidates and approve other education measures.

Hornell's 2024-25 budget was endorsed by voters, 194-84. The budget increases spending by about 8%.

On the tax side, the spending plan calls for a 2.5% increase in the local property tax levy, allowing the collection of about $191,000 more than 2023-24.

Also passing in Hornell:

  • Expenditure from School Bus Reserve Fund for student transportation vehicles: 235-42;

  • Authorization to establish a Transportation Reserve Fund: 227-49;

  • Authorized the Hornell Public Library budget of $370,955: 201-75;

  • The election of Meghann Khork to her second five-year term on the Hornell Board of Education to begin on July 1.

More: Voters reject proposed Corning-Painted Post school district budget. See area results.

Wellsville Central School District

The $36,766,401 budget was approved by voters 494-193. The 2024-25 spending plan includes no increase in the tax levy.

Most of the attention in Wellsville, Allegany County's largest school district, was focused on a 13-candidate race for three seats on the board of education.

  • The top vote-getter was newcomer Robert Gilfert, who earned a seat with 289 votes.

  • Jason Mattison won a seat with 215 votes.

  • Trish Haggerty earned the third seat with 213.

Gilfert, Mattison and Haggerty won three-year terms on the seven-member panel. The new terms begin July 1.

How other school board candidates in Wellsville finished

  • Heather Gill (incumbent), 212 votes.

  • Bryan Gamache (incumbent), 199 votes

  • Jenise Cicirello, 160

  • Shane Vogel, 156

  • Ronald “Keith” Loines (incumbent), 154

  • William Benz, 125

  • James Wixson, 119

  • Jill Vossler, 101

  • Trent Robbins, 76

  • Timothy Dannheim, 40

"The strong voter turnout is a clear testament to our community’s dedication and commitment to our schools," Wellsville Superintendent Dave Foster said. "The approval of the budget reflects confidence in our planning and strong financial management. I extend my gratitude to our board members and Emily Peavey, our business executive, for guiding an informative budget process."

Foster congratulated the school board victors, calling their willingness to take on this "challenging role" commendable.

Also in Wellsville, a transportation proposition was approved by voters, 524-165 and a measure to support the David A. Howe Library passed, 488-198.

Elsewhere in school budget voting Tuesday:

Andover Central School

Andover Central's $10.6 million budget was approved by voters Tuesday, 84-28.

In school board races, Samantha Ordiway won a one-year term with 99 votes. Cindy Baker won a three-year term with 106 votes.

Alfred-Almond Central School

  • Alfred-Almond’s $17,276,184 spending plan was approved 337-144. The budget contains a 1.5% increase in the tax levy.

  • In the race for a five-year term on the Alfred-Almond Board of Education, Heather Mills defeated incumbent board member Earl Pierce, 262-215.

  • Propositions for transportation purchases and library support were both backed by voters and passed comfortably.

Arkport Central School

  • Arkport Central School District $14,487,248 budget proposal was approved, 146-83.

  • Patrick Flaitz finished on top in the race for a five-year term on the Arkport School Board. Flaitz defeated Timothy Bailey, 110-98.

  • The purchase of two, 66-passenger school buses was approved by voters, 168-58.

  • A proposition to support the Arkport Public Library was approved, 169-58.

Avoca Central School

  • Voters in Avoca approved a $13,586,253 budget for the 2024-25 school year, 120-34.

  • Shane Slayton was elected to a five-year term on the school board.

  • A transportation proposition was approved, 126-27.

Canaseraga Central School

  • Canaseraga's $8,511,256 budget was approved by voters, 59-14.

  • Lester York won a seat on the Canaseraga School Board, finishing with 67 votes.

  • The library proposition in Canaseraga was approved, 61-11.

Dansville Central School

  • Dansville's $40,853,725 budget was approved 493 to 240. The 2024-25 spending plan is expected to increase the tax levy just under 2%.

  • Dansville candidates winning school board seats and their vote totals were Kristy Ebert, 522; Nikole Berry, 416; Chris Hall, 358. Six candidates were seeking the three seats.

  • Also, a transportation proposition was approved by voters, 437-299.

Canisteo-Greenwood Central School

  • Canisteo-Greenwood's $29,229,154 spending plan for 2024-25 was approved by voters on Tuesday, 242-27.

  • In the Canisteo-Greenwood School Board race, incumbent Marcy Bradley and newcomer George (Brad) Burd were elected to three-year terms.

  • The bus reserve proposition won overwhelming approval, 238-29.

Genesee Valley Central School

  • Genesee Valley's $20,193,002 budget was approved by voters on Tuesday, 160-63. The budget include a 6.94% increase in spending with a tax levy increase of 1.5%

  • Candidates elected to the Genesee Valley School Board were Shawn Grusendorf and James Cartwright.

  • Propositions to support the library and to support transportation both won approval by big margins.

Jasper-Troupsburg Central School

  • Jasper-Troupsburg voters approved a $14,636,208 budget for 2024-25, 88-25. The spending plan is up by nearly $1.2 million from last year and includes an expected tax increase of about 3.2%

  • A bus leasing program was approved in J-T, 94-19.

  • A proposition to purchase pickup trucks passed, 93-20.

  • In a write-in race for the school board, Melissa Miles finished with 9 votes to lead a field of write-in candidates. One seat was available.

Wayland-Cohocton Central School

  • The $37,421,361 Wayland-Cohocton school budget was approved, 199-44.

  • Voters also passed the library levy, 182-63.

  • The top vote-getters in the school board race were Dr. Heidi Robinson (185), Matthew Gleason (168) and Christopher Cicora (159).

Whitesville Central School

  • Whitesville’s $6,676,400 budget for 2024-25 was approved, 66-8

  • For the Whitesville Board of Education, Charles Cutler Jr. and Jeffrey Erdman won three-year terms, while Amanda Steadman picked up a two-year term.

  • A public library levy in Whitesville was backed by voters, 57-16.

In other Allegany County districts, school budgets were approved in Friendship, Scio, Belfast, Cuba-Rushford and Bolivar-Richburg.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Budget votes, school board election results for Hornell, Wellsville

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