$16.7 million school budget passes in Hunter, $15.9 million approved in Windham

UPDATED RESULTS:

Hunter-Tannersville

$16,789,837 budget – PASSED, 196-107

$457,549 vehicle proposition – PASSED, 205-97

$150,000 capital project – PASSED, 217-85

Board of Education (one seat):

Sarah Slutzky – 283

‍

Windham-Ashland-Jewett

$15,942,247 budget – PASSED, 222-63

Board of Education (one seat):

Jean Jaeger defeated Todd Galloway. Vote count was not immediately reported by the district.

‍

‍

MOUNTAIN TOP―Voters in the county’s two smallest school districts will decide next week on two of the smallest proposed budgets.

The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District has proposed a 2026-27 budget totaling $16,789,837. It increases spending by $1,054,893, or 6.7 percent, over the current year.

The estimated tax levy increase is 2.48 percent, below the district’s state tax cap.

Also on the ballot are two propositions, one of which would authorize the district to spend an amount not exceeding $457,549 for the purchase of two buses, a plow truck and a driver’s education vehicle. Funds are already set aside in the district’s Bus & Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund and the purchase would not increase taxes.

The second proposition seeks voter approval to undertake a $150,000 capital project at its transportation site. Work would include removal of two fuel tanks, demolition of the existing transportation facility and paving the area for future use. Funds are already in the district’s Capital Reserve Fund for Facilities Improvement and approval of the project would not raise taxes.

There is one open five-year seat on the board of education and Sarah Slutzky is seeking reelection unopposed.

On the other side of the mountain top, the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District has proposed a $15,942,247 budget for the 2026-27 school year.

It increases spending by $675,771, or 4.43 percent, and comes with an estimated tax levy increase of 4.04%, which is the district’s maximum under the state tax cap.

There are no propositions on the ballot, but voters will be electing one member to the board of education. Jean Jaeger is seeking reelection for a five-year term and facing challenge from Todd Galloway.

Windham-Ashland Jewett, with approximately 280 K-12 students, has the smallest enrollment of any district in the county. Hunter-Tannersville is only slightly larger with roughly 328 K-12 students, according to the New York State Education Department.

Approximate enrollment is 1,214 at Catskill, 1,082 at Cairo-Durham, 1,107 at Coxsackie-Athens and 1,063 at Greenville.

Voters across the state will head to the polls for school budget votes and board of education elections on Tuesday, May 19.

At Hunter-Tannersville, polls are open from 12-18 p.m. at the elementary school cafeteria. Windham-Ashland Jewett voters can cast ballots from 1-9 p.m. in the school cafetorium.