In addition to all budgets passing, all of the other propositions that appeared on the ballots for each respective district were also approved, with the only exception being a proposition in the Pine Valley School District to reduce the seats on the board of education. That proposition was defeated with 125 “no” votes to 71 “yes” votes.

• VIEW UNOFFICIAL RESULTS FOR EACH DISTRICT

JAMESTOWN VOTERS APPROVE BUDGET, SCHNARS RETURNS TO SCHOOL BOARD

In Jamestown, voters approved an $85 million budget by a vote of 504 to 106. That spending plan included no tax increase and also had no layoffs or staff reductions.

In the school board election race, incumbents Paul Abbott and Shelly Leathers won reelection. The third seat will go to Christine Schnars, who was previously on the school board for several years, up until June 2012 when she failed to receive enough votes in that year’s elections. Incumbent Tom Pope chose not to run for reelection this year.

JPS VOTE TALLY

• *Paul Abbott:  459
• *Rachelle “Shelly” Leathers: 376
• Christine Schnars: 343
• Frank Galeazzo:  249
• Fannell Leeper:  247
  * Notes Incumbent

The district’s bus proposition also was approved.

In the other local school board races that featured contested ballots, Jennifer Olson and Tom Frederes were the two top vote-getters in the Falconer School District, were two seats were up for election.  And in the Chautauqua Lake School District, which had three seats up for a vote, the top vote getters were Mary Lee Talbot, Jay Baker, and Deborah Cross-Fuller.

Candidates for the Jamestown School Board 2017 Election: (Top Row, L to R) Paul Abbott, Frank Galeazzo,

Candidates for the Jamestown School Board 2017 Election: (Top Row, L to R) Paul Abbott, and Shelly Leathers. (Bottom Row, L to R) Fannel Leeper and Christine Schnars.

JAMESTOWN – It appears there will be at least one new member of the Jamestown School Board when the new school year begins in July.

Wednesday was the deadline for school board candidates to submit petitions to run for three seats up for election in May.  A total of five individuals handed in signed petitions, with only two of them being current board members. They are board president Paul Abbott and board member Shelly Leathers. Long-time board member Tom Pope has apparently decided not to run for reelection.

The three other individuals who also submitted petitions are former Jamestown school board member and president Christine Schnars, city resident Fannell Leeper, and city resident Frank Galeazzo.

The Jamestown City Council PTSA will hold a Jamestown Board of Education Candidates’ Forum on Thursday, May 11th at 6 p.m. in the Board Room in the Administration Building at 197 Martin Road. The public is encouraged to attend to learn more about the candidates and ask questions.

A public hearing regarding the JPS 2017-18 Proposed Budget will be held on Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. at Persell Middle School. The 2017-18 Proposed Budget is also available for public review at 197 Martin Road or at www.jamestownpublicschools.org under the button “2017-18 Budget Information.”

The 2017-18 School Budget Vote and School Board Elections will be held on Tuesday, May 16 from noon to 9 p.m.

Official petitions can also be picked up at the district office by any resident in the district interested in running for the school board.  There are three school board seats up for vote at the May 16 election. Those three seats are currently held by Board President Paul Abbott and board members Shelly Leathers and Tom Pope.

The $85 million 2017-18 School Budget vote and School Board Elections will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 from noon to 9 p.m. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 9.  Information about the budget can also be found at the school website.

Any questions about the Board of Education petition process, voter registration or absentee voting applications can be directed to 483-4420.

Jamestown School Superintendent Tim Mains presents the tentative 2015-16 budget during the April 7, 2015 school board meeting at Lincoln School.

JAMESTOWN, NY – The Jamestown School Board got its first look at the tentative 2015-16 budget, which includes the elimination of 16 positions and also a 1.5 percent tax increase.

On Tuesday night Jamestown school superintendent Tim Mains presented the details of the $77.6 million spending plan. The budget contains a 2.42 percent increase in spending compared to the current year’s budget. However, the two biggest line items in the budget – salaries and benefits – both see reductions by about 1.3 and 2.9 percent respectively.

The largest contributing costs to the budget are an increase in BOCES fees, debt service, and contract services.

• POWERPOINT BUDGET PRESENTATION

CUTTING POSITIONS NECESSARY TO CLOSE SPENDING GAP

Jamestown Teachers Association President Chris Reilly addresses the school board during the April 7, 2015 meeting.

During his presentation, Mains said he was forced to deliver a budget that calls for a significant reduction in staffing as well as a slight tax increase because the amount of state aid the district will receive is not nearly enough to close a $2.1 million budget gap.

As for the position cuts, the majority will be through attrition by way of early retirements, although there is also the possibility for up to four layoffs. However, Mains said that two of those individuals may be able to stay on by filling two new positions that might have to be created – although the district won’t know for certain until the start of the new school year in September.

Mains said says the other two layoffs could stay in the district by way of long term substations (LTS).

“I have long term sub positions that I’m going to be able to offer them,” Mains explained to reporters following the meeting. “I know that two of them absolutely I’m going to be able to provide something to. But an LTS position isn’t the same [as a permanent position]. It’s a little bit tenuous.”

Prior to the budget presentation, several individuals addressed the school board during the public comment, including Jamestown Teachers Association president Chris Reilly. He requested the board not pursue any layoffs, saying the number of insdtructors in the district has already seen a significant decrease in recent years.

“We as a district can not achieve the level of success we all aspire to with class sizes of 30 students or, for that matter, 25 or even 22,” Reilly said. “When I became the JTA president eight years ago, we had 530 members. Our membership records as of today show that we have 483 members. That’s an 8.9 percent reduction mostly occurring in the past four or five years.”

The union president also reminded the board that the JTA had already done its part, with nearly two dozen members taking an early retirement in order to reduce costs and prevent any possible layoffs.

TAX INCREASE WELL BELOW TAX CAP

As for the 1.5 percent property tax increase, Mains said he feels it’s justifiable considering it’s the first increase in five years.

“We had already gotten some [information] telegraphed during board discussions that it sounded as though folks might be willing to consider something in that neighborhood,” Mains said. “So we listened to the board and put that out there. I do believe it’s extremely reasonable. A 1.5 percent increase could be justified in just one year alone and when you say it’s the first increase in five years, it makes it even more justifiable.”

An increase of 1.5 percent would result in $220,000 in new revenue, which would help to protect four positions from being cut. Under the state’s tax cap guidelines, the district had the option of increasing taxes by as much as 3.25 percent.

BUDGET PROCESS TO CONTINUE APRIL 15

After learning about the budget, some school board members offered their initial thoughts. Board member Tom Pope said he’s not comfortable with any tax increase and he’s also concerned about using $1,000,000 from the district’s fund balance, which would all but deplete the money from the “rainy day” account unless the district was to realize unanticipated savings during the current year.

Board members Paul Abbott and Patrick Slagle also had questions regarding the allocation of more than $300,000 toward professional development,while at the same time the district was looking at cutting 16 positions.

In addition to Reilly’s comments, six others also spoke during the meeting regarding the budget, with several representatives from the Jamestown YWCA requesting the district not cut the TEAM program, which provides services to students who are mothers or who are expecting. Mains noted during his budget presentation that both TEAM – as well as Chautauqua Striders – will not see any cuts in funding.

The board will continue to discuss the budget and consider adjustments during a work session next Wednesday, April 15 – beginning at 5:30 p.m. However, its not expected to act on a final budget until the following week.

The school board has until April 26 to approve a spending plan and put it before the public for a vote.

In Jamestown, the $75,768,676 budget passed by a vote of 322 to 86. A proposition to purchase several new buses also passed 336 to 72. There were three board seats up for election in Jamestown, but the incumbants ran unopposed. Being elected to new, 3-year terms were Paul Abbott, Shelly Leathers and Tom Pope.

Last month, the board of education approved a $75,768,676 budget that contains no tax increase.  Tonight’s hearing will give the public information, and offer the opportunity to ask questions, regarding the spending plan.

The Budget Vote and School Board Elections will be held next Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Jefferson Middle School, Lincoln Elementary School and Washington Middle School from noon to 9 p.m.

Candidates for the 2014-15 school year are: Paul Abbott, Shelly Leathers and Tom Pope. The three already sit on the school board and they are the only residents running for the three open seats.

Anyone with questions about where they should vote should call the District Clerk at 483-4420.

More information on the school budget can also be found online at www.jamestownpublicschools.org and also in the Superintendent’s Office, 197 Martin Road from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday’s public hearing begins at 7 p.m. in the Persell Middle School auditorium.

The forum will begin at 6 p.m. in the Jefferson Middle School Auditorium and is open to all area residents.

The school board election and budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 20.

Candidates must submit a completed petition containing the names of 100 or more qualified voters within the school district. There are three open JPS board seats, each for a three-year term, beginning July 1, 2014. The three seats are currently occupied by board members Paul Abbot, Shelly Leathers and Tom Pope.

Also, if a person is not registered to vote, but wants to vote in the May 20 School Election, Jamestown Public School’s registration day will be held today from noon to 6 p.m. in the Administration Building, 197 Martin Road, Jamestown, New York.

Non-registered voters should present themselves, in person, before the JPS District Clerk with proof of identity and proof of address on May 1st in order to be entitled to vote on May 20, 2014.

Any questions about the Board of Education petition process, voter registration or absentee voting applications can be directed to 483-4420.