Alan Barone and Heather Welch
Voters on Tuesday night, May 16 approved the Highland Central School District’s proposed budget of $42,866,930 for the 2017-18 school year. The budget passed by a 68 percent voter majority, with 636 votes in favor and 293 opposed. The budget met the criteria of the state’s tax levy limit legislation and therefore needed a simple majority approval of 50 percent plus one vote to pass. The budget reflects a tax levy increase of 2.9 percent.
The $750,000 proposition for school bus replacement also passed, by a 63.5 percent majority. The bus proposition received 589 “yes” votes and 338 “no” votes. The funds authorized by the passage of the proposition will pay for five 65-passenger buses and three 29-passenger vans. Transportation aid will pay for 59.1 percent of the cost.
Incumbent trustees Alan Barone and Heather Welch were reelected to their seats on the Board of Education. No other candidates ran on the ballot. The terms are for three years, beginning July 1. Barone received 673 votes and Welch 694.