By WBFO News
Buffalo, NY – Record levels of state aid are being credited with the approval of nearly all local school district budgets in voting Tuesday.
School officials were able to increase school spending while keeping tax increases to a minimum. The only school district where voters turned down a new spending plan was Holley Central in Orleans County.
Statewide, voters passed 543 school district budgets. The number of budgets defeated was 46. Final results had not yet been reported for another 83 districts.
"Across the state, despite very challenging economic times, a majority of residents cast their vote in support of their local schools," said New York State School Boards Assocation Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer. "For that, we are very grateful."
Besides deciding the fate of budgets, voters Tuesday also filled vacancies on their local school boards and voted on separate propositions to fund such needs as school construction or bus purchases.