The second time was the charm for two area school districts who had rejected budgets last month.
The spending plan in Brighton was scaled back from the budget that was rejected in May. That budget garnered 55% of the vote, but it needed at least 60% of the votes to pass since it exceeded the state property tax cap.
The revised plan of $80.5 million was approved in a resounding way on Tuesday, by a vote of 2,294 to 531. Officials say that the 81% “yes” vote was the fifth-highest passage rate in more than 40 years.
The new budget has a projected tax levy increase of 2.34%. That did not go over the state property tax cap.
“Thank you to the community for their support,” said Superintendent Kevin McGowan. “We appreciate the feedback we received throughout the entire process and attempted to develop a budget responsive to what the community expressed in the first vote. We believe that the community spoke, the District responded, and we’ll now continue moving ahead.”
Two propositions on the Brighton ballot also passed easily. One calls for withdrawing $3 million from a capital reserve fund to pay for the construction of renovations and improvements to each of the district’s school buildings and facilities and also reduce the debt obligation related to a facilities improvement plan.
The second proposition authorizes the transfer of $500,000 from a capital reserve fund to the district’s general operating fund, money that will be used for computer-related equipment and other technology.
In Brockport, voters approved the same $82 million dollar budget that was rejected last month.
It passed by a vote of 827 in favor and 594 against.
A statement on the district’s website said that, “We can move forward with planning for next year to realize our vision of graduating each student prepared for college or a career.”
