Marcellus voters approve $30.4 million budget, elect four board members

On Tuesday, May 21, Marcellus Central School District residents voted to approve the district's 2013-14 proposed budget with 825 voting in favor and 335 voting against it. The $30.4 million budget carries a 0.61 percent spending increase over the current year and a 2.9 percent increase in the tax levy.

The tax levy increase is below the allowable limit set by New York’s tax levy limit law.

Rocky Tangredi (left), a special education teacher at Driver
Middle and Marcellus Senior High schools, signs in to vote
in the school district budget election May 21, 2013.

“We want to thank all of our community members who came out and voted today,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Craig J. Tice. 

“Our community’s unwavering commitment to Marcellus Central Schools empowers us to deliver the kind of multi-faceted educational program required to prepare our students for life beyond commencement,” Dr. Tice continued. “Throughout the budget development process, we worked to create a plan that not only preserves the integrity of that Marcellus schools experience, but enhances it.”

Voters also approved:

• A $615,512 proposition to purchase six, 66-passenger school buses, with 743 voting in favor and 409 voting against it.
• $598,960 proposition to install a districtwide wireless communication network, with 683 voting in favor and 465 voting against it.

Four candidates also were elected to the Marcellus Board of Education. Voters elected incumbents Ryan Riefler (843 votes), Kathleen Welch (725 votes) and John Fuller (659 votes), and newcomer Thomas J. West Jr. (826 votes). 

Riefler, West and Welch each will serve three-year terms, beginning July 1. Fuller, who received the fourth-highest number of votes, will serve for one year, which is the time remaining in former board member Julie Brissette’s term. Brissette resigned effective May 20.

Brian McNaney also ran and received 583 votes.