Thank you voters!
Watervliet City School District residents Tuesday approved the $44,082,000 budget for the 2025-26 school year by a margin of 69%, or 104 yes votes to 46 no votes.
Brian White was re-elected to the Board of Education with 130 votes. He will serve his second three-year term on the school board beginning July 1, 2025.
The 2025-26 budget increases overall spending by $2.7 million, or 6.5 percent, compared to the current year’s budget. It maintains all academic programs and instructional services, while providing additional resources and opportunities for students.
The budget yields a tax levy increase of 1.77 percent, which is well below the district’s tax levy limit under New York’s tax “cap” law. As such, a simple majority of voters was needed to approve the budget.
Voters also approved a proposition allowing the school district to lease a 66-passenger school bus for five (5) years at an annual cost of $26,600.
A separate library tax proposition was approved by a vote of 102 yes to 55 no votes.