On Board Online • June 30, 2025
By Paul Heiser
Senior Research Analyst
Twenty-one of the 24 districts that held school budget revotes on June 17 had the same or revised spending plans approved.
Districts that had their budgets defeated on May 20 were allowed to either put budgets before voters a second time or adopt contingency budgets. All proposed second budgets.
Seventeen of the districts that had their budgets defeated on the initial vote required 60% supermajority approval because their tax levies exceeded their capped amounts. Six of those districts attempted overrides the second time as well. Of those, five passed (Germantown, New Lebanon, Indian Lake, Prattsburgh and Elwood), while Oakfield-Alabama's was defeated.
Eleven of the districts holding revotes had attempted tax cap overrides in May but revised their follow-up spending plans so that their proposed tax levies were within the tax cap. All 11 were approved. This list included Brunswick (Brittonkill), Cazenovia, Corning-Painted Post, Cortland, Gananda, Horsehead, Keene, Northville, Scotia-Glenville, Shelter Island and Sherrill.
Two districts - Germantown and Oakfield-Alabama - put up the same budget for a revote as the initial vote: Germantown's first budget, which required 60% voter approval, was defeated by only seven votes. The second budget passed with 60.4% in favor. Oakfield-Alabama, which also needed supermajority on both votes, had its second budget defeated.
The three districts that suffered budget defeats twice (Oakfield-Alabama, Tuxedo and Jefferson) will now need to adopt contingency budgets for the 2025-26 school year. This means that the budget is restricted to "ordinary contingent expenses," which are those necessary to operate the schools, ensure student and staff safety, and preserve property. It also means the tax levy cannot exceed the previous year's levy.