Voters OK reduced school budgets

Second time was a charm Tuesday for two local school districts whose initial budgets failed in May.

Unadilla Valley and Cobleskill-Richmondville Central schools reduced their budget proposals for this vote to meet the state's property tax cap requirements to allow for a simple majority.

In May, the spending plans were above the allowable maximum and failed to received the 60 percent supermajority required.

The budget at Unadilla Valley, which was approved 360 to 154, was reduced $440,608 from the previous plan, to require a 2.4 percent tax levy increase, the maximum allowed. The May plan, which called for a 4.3 percent increase, was defeated, 255 to 253. A revised bus proposal was also on the ballot, and passed, 284 to 228, according to district clerk Donna Taylor.

The new plan at Cobleskill-Richmondville, which passed 1,178 to 887, was reduced by $256,712 to meet its maximum allowable tax cap increase of 2.72 percent. The previous budget, which was defeated by a vote of 981 to 1,198, called for a 4.54 percent increase. A revised bus proposal was also approved 1,060 to 976, according to school public information specialist Nanette Morges.

If a budget was defeated the district would be required to adopt a contingency plan the calls for no levy increase.