Beacon School Budget Passes - The Result Numbers
Here are the results from the budget vote and board election.
Proposition #1 (Budget)
Yes 666
No 196
Proposition #2 (Buses)
The district is asking to purchase 3 buses that fits 72 passengers, and 1 passenger van that fits 20 passenger van, for a total of $530,000. Ann Marie explained that it will be financed over 5 years to match State Aid, which is 58.5%. The busses are to replace aging buses that will be taken out of service. The district does use the old buses as trade-ins to help offset the cost of new buses.
Yes 644
No 220
Proposition #3 (Electric Bus)
This district wants to purchase its first Electric Powered Bus, in response to the broader mandate from New York State to eventually have an electric fleet of buses. However, Deputy Superintendent Ann Marie stressed: “Only if the District receives $250,000 from grants and incentives. An electric bus is definitely more expensive. It's well over $400,000. We asked the taxpayers to purchase this only if we get the grant to offset the cost. This is a program we are basically ... there is a state mandate to have all of our fleet be electric. There will be infrastructure changes at the bus garage, and chargers purchased. This is the first step."
Yes 570
No 295
Proposition #4 (Expanded transportation)
The district wants to expand eligibility for kids to take the bus, by reduce the mileage radius of where students live. Currently, students who live 1.5 miles away can take the bus, but not those who live inside that radius.
Proposed is to reduce the radius to 1 mile. Dr. Landahl explained that this has a limited impact on the budget. “Some of the buses are running and they are not full of students,” he stated. “There is a plan for this. We are trying to target areas where kids are having a hard time getting to school. Some of the housing developments, we are trying to get kids to school to increase attendance and do better in school overall.”
Yes 684
No 177
Board Election
Anthony White 639
Kristan Flynn 678
Eric Schetter 696
Semra Ercin 607
Anthony White, Kristan Flynn, and Eric Schetter will all serve a three-year term. Semra Ercin will serve a two-year term to replace Antony Tseng who resigned this year.
Dr. Landahl thanked the poll workers and Board Clerk Vickie Jackson for a well-run election.