UPDATE:
Fredonia budget defeated;
others pass easily

May 20, 2025

Chautauqua County schools were reporting low voter turnout as budgets were passed with ease.

But that was not the case in Fredonia, where it appears voters have had enough. Just like two of the three capital project proposals this past winter, the 2025-2026 school budget was rejected.

The margin was narrow, as 472 voters said no, compared to 414 who said yes.

The 2025-2026 Fredonia School Budget carried a total proposed amount of $38,336,005. That figure was an increase of 5.23% from the previous budget.

In 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Fredonia School Budget increased just over 2% each year due to rising costs and salaries. Last year, that figure jumped to 8.52%. The proposed increase this year was still more than 5% higher than last year's amount, even after the 8.52% jump.

In the end, as former President and outgoing Board member Brian Aldrich suggested, many voters said no where they could. With a 65% tax increase in the village of Fredonia combined with an already approved 1.9% tax increase tied to Proposition 1 of the capital project from last winter, voters said an additional 0.69% tax increase on top of that was too much to stomach.

Aldrich's seat on the Board will be filled by Kevin Martin, who was elected Tuesday after running unopposed.

Dunkirk City School District voters approved a 2025-26 budget by a tally of 159 to 78 on Tuesday.

Voters also backed the establishment of a capital improvements reserve fund, with 155 "yes" votes to 74 "no."

Stephen Helwig and Karen Willis were the only two candidates to run for two open Dunkirk Board of Education seats. Helwig gathered 206 votes while Willis garnered 180.

Other districts reporting include: Cassadaga Valley, 145 yes to 54 no; Chautauqua Lake, 223-61; Clymer, 176-96; Falconer, 110-7; Gowanda, 77% to 23% with John Y. Waterman Jr. and Brittney Olszewski chosen to two board seats; Forestville, 114 yes to 30 no, with the gasoline bus proposal passing 121-23 and the library proposition passing 103-40; Panama, 152-34; Pine Valley, 130-43; Randolph, 170-28; Silver Creek, 228-74 with the library proposition passing 241-63; Southwestern, 217-64; Westfield Academy & Central School, 225-74.

Polls for districts closed at 8 p.m. and 9.