Residents in school districts throughout the region will decide on new school budgets, board members and propositions Tuesday. Traditionally in many districts voter turn out is low. Jane Burzynski is the director of the Erie County Association of School Boards.
"I think it's very interesting that there has been so much activity and concern regarding the testing and regarding teacher evaluations, Gap Elimination -- there's so much concern -- yet typical in a school budget vote you see a very low turnout," said Burzynski.
Burzynski tells WBFO News some citizens are complacent because they won't see major education changes.
"At the school budget vote you are not going to be able to change the assessments, your note going to change APPR, you not going to be able to get Gap Elimination adjustment back," said Burzynski.
Voters in Grand Island, the City of Tonawanda, Depew, Alden, Maryvale in Erie County and North Tonawanda in Niagara County will see the veterans question on Tuesday's school voting ballots. The State legislation passed in 2013 allowing districts to offer the exemptions to wartime veterans. But many districts are facing funding gaps. However, districts are looking to residents to weigh-in.
"A number of the districts have put the veterans tax exemption issue on the ballot for an advisory vote to see how their communities feel about that. It's a nice way for the community to have some input into an issue like that," noted Buryznski.
Here's a brief look at what voters are deciding Tuesday in some of the area districts:
Amherst residents are considering a 5.6-percent spending increase for next year. The budget in Amherst totals $53.6-million. Three board seats are also up for grabs.
In Cheektowaga, school officials have come up with a $40-million spending plan that is actually 2-percent less than the current plan. Voters are also deciding on who will fill two school board openings.
Residents in the city of Tonawanda are considering a $31-million budget, that's an increase of 1.23-percent over the current school budget. Two seats are open on the board there.
Depew voters will decide whether to approve a $41-million budget, a hike of just over one-percent from the current spending plan. Residents are also considering two propositions: The first involves spending 269-thousand-dollars on new buses and the second involves adopting a veteran's tax exemption. That proposition is non-binding. Two budget seats are also up for election.
Residents of the Frontier School District are considering a 3-point-7-percent budget hike. Next year's school plan totals $77-million. Frontier voters are also deciding on an $881,000 proposition to purchase eight school buses. Three school board seats are open in Frontier.
Maryvale residents are voting on a nearly $41-million spending plan, a 6.84-percent increase from the current budget. Voters are also being asked to consider a veterans tax exemption and voting on who will fill two open school board seats in Maryvale.
Orchard Park school officials are hoping to gain approval for a more than $91-million budget, up 2.56-percent from the current plan. Voters in Orchard Park will also consider a $760,000 plan to purchase eight buses and vote on two school board seats.
Residents of the Sweethome School District are deciding on a nearly $72-million budget, an increase of 2.35-percent. Voters are also considering a $492,000 proposition to purchase new buses. Two school board seats are up from grabs.
In West Seneca, residents are voting on a $112.5 million budget, an increase of 3.37-percent over the current budget. Voters will also decide on whether to purchase new buses at a cost of just over $571,000. Two school board seats are on the ballot in West Seneca.
Clarence residents are deciding on a more than $75-million spending plan for the coming school year, that's a 3.86-percent increase over the current budget. Clarence residents are also voting on a proposition to purchase 12 school buses and a plow truck totaling $990,000 and deciding on two school board seats.
In Williamsville voters will be deciding on a $178-million spending plan and three propositions. The first is a $23-million proposal for district wide improvements such as replacing roofs and renovating auditoriums. The second a $22.4-million plan to add artificial turf to athletic fields at each of the district's three high schools. Neither of those projects is expected to increase the tax rate. The third proposal will add restrooms at athletic fields at all three high schools, as well as concessions and lighting at Williamsville East and North, increasing the tax rate by 7-cents per thousand of assessed property value. Three school board seats are also being chosen today in Williamsville.
In Lancaster, where the current school members recently voted to change the district's controversial Redskins mascot, some Redskins supporters are hoping to oust incumbents. Lancaster is also voting on a $57-million capital project for health and safety issues, maintenance repairs and district upgrades as well as a $99-million school budget that's up just over 2-and-a-half-percent from this year.
Residents in the Ken-Ton School district will vote on a nearly $156-million spending plan. That's an increase of 2.23-percent from the current plan. They'll also be considering whether to approve spending $1.6-million on new buses. Another proposition asks voters to consider lowering transportation eligibility limits. One seat is open on the school board.