Despite much controversy over school budgets this year -- prompting a massive campaign by the state teachers' union -- yesterday's school election results aren't too revolutionary. (See the Daily Freeman's results chart here, and the Times Herald-Record's here. The Catskill Daily Mail's in-depth coverage is here. So far, the Daily Star doesn't seem to have election results for Delaware or Schoharie County. We'll update this post as we learn more.)
In Ulster and Sullivan counties, most school budgets were passed by voters, and incumbents were usually re-elected. Kingston approved 59 layoffs. New Paltz, the scene of a groundswell of opposition to the construction of a new school building earlier this year, passed its budget demurely.
There were a few exceptions, the most exciting of which was Saugerties, where voters overwhelmingly rose to crush a 21% property tax hike.
What this means for local schools is clear, reports the Times Herald-Record: Results will mean axing many jobs.
**Update: The Daily Star reports that budgets were defeated in Schoharie, Worcester, Charlotte Valley and Jefferson.
