Brockport school taxpayers approve
$57.3 million spending plan

The determination of Brockport school officials to keep the tax rate increase under five percent met with the approval of taxpayers who voted for the budget by an almost three to one margin in the May 18 vote.

The $57.3 million spending plan brings with it a 3.29 percent tax increase, one which Assistant Superintendent of Business James Woods said would allow the district to maintain its programs. The budget package passed with 1,438 taxpayers saying yes and 514 casting dissenting votes. The district's proposition to purchase 13 school buses as part of its bus replacement plan was given the thumbs up by voters by a 1,302 to 604 margin.

Board of Education incumbent Fred Porter said he was gratified that the voters turned out in such large numbers to support the budget. "This was the largest margin the budget has ever passed by - 74 percent," he said. "I think the reason it passed was because we tried to do a better job of communicating with the residents."

Porter said the taxpayers understand the position of the district and they also value the curriculum and benefits the district has to offer and helped the board work to preserve them. "We are all in this together," he said of the budget process.

Taxpayers were asked to choose between two board incumbents - Porter and Joan Fenton - and two newcomers - Sarah Brinklow and Terry Wolfe. Porter and Fenton were able to retain their seats by garnering 1,381 and 1,494 votes, respectively. Brinklow received 358 and Wolfe, 419.