*A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the Stamford Central School budget passed 75-73. The budget failed 75-73.
Voters across Delaware County schools showed strong support for their local schools Tuesday, May 19, approving proposed budgets and capital projects for the 2025–26 academic year, with the exception of Roxbury and Stamford. From bus purchases to board elections, the results reflect a continued investment in education and infrastructure across the region.
Deposit: Unanimous Support Across the Board
Voters in the Deposit Central School District approved the district’s proposed $20,197,873 budget for the 2026-27 school year.
Proposition No. 1, approving the overall budget, passed 102-28. The spending plan represents a $648,522 increase, or 3.32%, over the current year’s budget.
Voters also approved Proposition No. 2, authorizing the purchase of new school vehicles - including a 65-passenger bus, 28-passenger bus and passenger van - at a maximum cost of $365,501. The measure passed 105-25.
Julie Martin and John Lanner were elected to the Board of Education. Six write-in votes were cast.
Delaware Academy: Budget and Propositions Win by Wide Margins
Voters in the Delaware Academy Central School District approved the district’s 2026-27 budget Tuesday, May 19, by a vote of 375-105.
Voters also approved the establishment of a technology reserve fund, 411-70, and a capital reserve fund, 395-85.
In the race for two seats on the Board of Education, Kimberly Shephard received 338 votes and Hope Knapp received 291 votes to win election. Nathaniel McCarthy received 269 votes.
Andes: Voters Approve School Budget, Elect Board Member
Voters in the Andes Central School District approved the 2026-27 school budget by a vote of 52-35, with one ballot invalidated for over-voting on the budget proposition.
Kelly Bauer was reelected to her Board of Education seat with 71 votes. There were two write-in votes cast, one each for Jessica Bene and Maureen Burton, along with 14 blank ballots.
Downsville: Budget, Capital Project Passes
Voters in the Downsville Central School District approved the 2026-27 school budget by a vote of 61-23. Proposition No. 3, a capital project measure, also passed, 55-29. Richard Bell was reelected to the Board of Education.
Sidney: Budget Passes by Wide Margin
Voters in the Sidney Central School District overwhelmingly approved the district’s $35,569,077 budget for the 2026-27 school year by a vote of 120-14.
Incumbents Amanda Finch, Jason Miller and Justin Poss were reelected to the Board of Education, each receiving 115 votes.
Voters also approved a proposition authorizing the purchase of two diesel buses at a cost not to exceed $347,500 from the Capital Bus Reserve Fund. The measure passed 118-16.
The budget for the Sidney Memorial Public Library also passed, 126-9. David Green was elected to the library board with 121 votes.
Margaretville: Voters Approve Budget and Propositions
Voters in the Margaretville Central School District approved the district’s 2026-27 budget by a vote of 291-125.
Voters also approved a bus proposition, 253-162, and a library proposition, 252-164.
In the race for a Board of Education seat, Doris Warner won reelection with 232 votes. Joan Lawrence-Bauer received 126 votes, while write-in candidate Jennifer Amundsen received 43 votes.
Stamford: Close Margins, Clear Results
Voters in the Stamford Central School District narrowly defeated the district’s $11,763,564 budget for the 2026-27 school year Tuesday, May 19, by a vote of 75-73.
Voters approved a proposition authorizing the purchase of a 65-passenger Freightliner/Thomas school bus at a cost not to exceed $183,600. The measure passed 82-65 and will be funded through the district’s existing bus reserve fund and/or unappropriated fund balance.
In Board of Education races, Megan Buel received 118 votes and Lucas Flachs received 115 votes to secure seats with terms ending June 30, 2029.
South Kortright: Voters Approve School Budget, Capital Reserve Fund
Voters in the South Kortright Central School District approved the district’s $11,964,147 budget for the 2026-27 school year Tuesday by a vote of 120-52. Voters also approved a proposition authorizing the purchase of one 65-passenger diesel school bus at a cost not to exceed $180,000, to be paid from the district’s bus reserve fund. The measure passed 128-45. A separate proposition establishing a new bus reserve fund with a maximum amount of $1 million over 10 years also passed, 130-42. The fund will be supported through excess fund balance, tax levy and transportation aid. In Board of Education races, John T. Dropp was elected to a five-year term with 144 votes, Michael O’Connor was elected to a three-year term with 127 votes, and Janet Beken Smith was elected to a two-year term with 112 votes.
Walton: Budget Clears Supermajority Requirement
Voters in the Walton Central School District approved the proposed 2026-27 budget of $26,921,300, surpassing the 60% supermajority required because the spending plan exceeded the state tax cap. The budget passed 247-152. Voters also approved a proposition allowing the district to purchase up to three 64-passenger buses and one 48-passenger bus with a wheelchair lift at a cost not to exceed $735,000. That measure passed 272-146. In Board of Education voting, Kevin Verweire received 292 votes to win a three-year term. Cortnie Russell received 108 write-in votes. The William B. Ogden Free Library budget also passed, 255-161. Under state law, the library budget appears on the school ballot but is separate from the district budget.
Hancock: All Propositions Approved
Voters in the Hancock Central School District approved the district’s 2026-27 school budget by a vote of 84-42, or 67% in favor. Voters also approved the public library budget, 100-25, and passed a bus proposition, 72-54. Vicky Bogart was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Education, running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. Roxanne Kulikowski Losicco was elected to a five-year term on the library board, serving from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.
Franklin: Voters Approve School Budget, Bus Purchase
Voters in the Franklin Central School District approved the district’s 2026-27 budget by a vote of 125-82. Voters also approved a bus proposition, 124-85, and approved funding for the Franklin Free Library by a vote of 136-72.
In board elections, Laura Post was elected to a five-year term with 166 votes. One write-in vote was cast for the seat. Maria DeSilva was elected to a two-year term with 118 votes.
Rockland: Voters Approve Nearly $34 Million School Budget
Voters in the Rockland Central School District approved the district’s $33,974,076 budget for the 2026-27 school year by a vote of 431-310. The spending plan increases spending by $1,839,096, or 5.72%, while keeping the tax levy increase at the district’s 4.48% tax levy limit. In Board of Education races, Melissa Hess received 363 votes and Jill Smith received 351 votes, earning three-year terms. Alys Mann, with 255 votes, was elected to a two-year-plus term created by the resignation of James Buck.
Roxbury: School Budget Fails
The Roxbury Central School budget failed by a 150-133 vote. The proposed budget of $12,138,637 was a 5.98% increase over the previous budget, with a tax levy increase of 1.92%. The second proposal on the ballot for a capital project failed 202-79. The $5.2 million plan would have gone to repairs and improvements of the school building.
