By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

Residents of the North Syracuse and Liverpool school districts have given the green light to their districts’ budgets for the 2020-21 year.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, New York state schools held their annual elections via absentee ballots. Originally, ballots were due June 9 but Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order extending the deadline to June 16.

The New York State School Boards Association estimated June 18 that voters approved 98.7% of school budgets across the state.

“In the midst of a public health and economic crisis, voters in the state of New York showed how much they value public education by collectively and, in many cases overwhelmingly, supporting their local school district budgets,” NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider said in a press release dated June 17. “We are grateful to the public for its strong show of support for education and the valiant efforts of school districts in providing educational services under extremely trying circumstances.”

Read on for more about each district’s school vote results.

Liverpool Central School District

Voters in the Liverpool Central School District approved the $166,173,358 budget by a margin of 4,986 yes votes to 1,836 no votes.

Also on the ballot was a proposition to purchase 12 school buses and a wheel loader with a bucket and snow-pushing blade for $1,516,227.32. The proposition passed with 4,615 yes votes and 2,198 no votes.

Three people were elected to three-year terms on the LCSD Board of Education: Stacey Balduf (4,669 votes), James Root (4,278 votes) and James Rowley (3,755 votes).

Tom Furr was not elected to the BOE but received 3,329 votes.

District voters also approved the Liverpool Public Library’s budget with 5,019 yes votes and 1,752 no votes. Ashley Gouger was elected to a five-year term on the LPL Board of Trustees with 5,639 votes.

North Syracuse Central School District

Voters in the North Syracuse Central School District passed the $172,567,744 budget with 60% approval (4,417 yes votes and 2,074 no votes).

“Many thanks to all of our community members who submitted ballots in this unique election. We know the past few months have been very trying and we are incredibly grateful for the community’s support,” Superintendent Daniel Bowles said in a statement.

Also on the ballot was a bus proposition for $2,113,295, which passed with 4,155 yes votes and 2,319 no votes. Voters also approved the Salina Free Library proposition for $471,228 with 354 yes votes and 162 no votes.

Three people were elected to three-year terms on the NSCSD Board of Education: Erin McDonald (3,999 votes), Michael Mirizio (3,306 votes) and Terri Krueger (3,109 votes).

Three other candidates were not elected but received the following vote totals:

• Joshua Ludden: 2,916 votes

• Michael Donofrio: 2,680 votes

• Xavier Moody-Wusik: 1,139 votes