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J-D voters approve $60.2 million budget; elect four board members

On May 18, Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District voters approved the district’s $60.2 million 2021-22 budget proposal, elected four board of education members, approved retaining a non-voting student board member and approved the purchase of five new buses. 

District-related Propositions

  • A $60,179,653 budget for the 2021-22 school year that increases spending 2.62% ($1,538,678) and carries a tax levy decrease of 0.11%: 1,414 yes; 278 no

  • Purchasing five new school buses at a total cost not to exceed $499,952: 1,278 yes; 407 no

  • Retaining a non-voting student board member: 1,473 yes; 221 no

Board of Education Election

Seven candidates sought election to four open board of education seats: three seats are for three-year terms and one is for a two-year term. Candidates and the number of votes they received are:

  • Jalal Zoghby: 1,111 votes

  • Lisa M. McKenney: 921 votes;

  • Kelly Austin: 906 votes; 

  • Carolyn Souser: 821 votes;

  • Emily Costello: 716 votes;

  • Rev. H. Bernard Alex: 712 votes; and

  • Ruth Arena: 672 votes.

Resident Scott Ogata withdrew his nominating petition on April 23, after the ballot had already been printed. 

The district also received several write-in votes for candidates; but there were not enough for any one candidate to change the outcome of the election results. 

The candidates with the three highest vote totals will fill the three-year terms and begin service on July 1: Jalal Zoghby, Lisa M. McKenney and Kelly Austin. Carolyn Souser received the fourth-highest vote total and will fill the two-year term. Souser will be sworn into office at the board’s May 24 regular meeting.

Library Proposition

  • Supporting the Community Library of DeWitt & Jamesville, $1,489,406: 1,265 yes; 422 no

New York state education law allows libraries to place a funding proposition on school district ballots and requires school districts, at the libraries’ requests, to levy and collect taxes for libraries. The Community Library of DeWitt & Jamesville is a separate legal entity from the school district, with its own funding and budget.