By a narrow seven vote margin, voters in the Holley Central School district ratified the 2001-2002 budget. Residents approved the $14,551,780 budget with 372 voting "yes" on the spending plan while 365 voted "no."

The approved budget will increase the tax levy by $1.57, boosting the tax rate to $22.54 per thousand of assessed valuation. The spending plan represents a 4.68 percent expenditure increase over the 2000-2001 budget.

With the state's STAR tax reduction program, the average taxpayer in the district will likely see their taxes decrease by $100.

The budget for the 2001-2002 school year includes funding to cover increases in health insurance premiums which amount to nearly $234,000. The district also has budgeted for an additional $700,000 to accommodate the educational needs of special education students.

Also new to the district in the coming year will be the implementation of a high school football team. Funds, in the amount of $46,000, were included in the budget proposition for the kick off of this program.

The budget proposal put before the voters encompassed a spending plan that school administrators said the commu-nity could afford while still protecting the district's educational soundness.

The $71,389 spending plan for the Community Free Library's budget appropriation was approved with a vote of 415 to 255.

Five hopefuls were vying for three available seats on the Holley Central School Board of Education. The top three vote-getters were: Ralph Gleason with 432; Elaine Berg garnered 418; incumbent Donna Bopp received 375.

Harold Phillips saw his second defeat in a bid for a seat on the school board. He received 328 voters. John O'Mara received 284 votes and high school student Mike Kinsey received eight write-in votes.