B U F F A L O N E W S

A preview of Tuesday's school elections

Half of the local school budget proposals carry a spending increase below 4 percent, and district officials across Erie County hope that is a number voters can live with when they head to the polls next week.

5/11/2006

Grand Island

Candidates: (Elect 3): George E. Casey (i), Glenn J. Bobeck and James T. Hanna.

Total budget: $45.6 million, up 6.6 percent.

Property tax rate per $1,000 assessed value: $38.35, up 7.6 percent.

Total amount to be raised through property taxes: $25.4 million, up 7.6 percent.

Taxes on $100,000 home (market value): $2,144.

Percentage of budget from property taxes: 56 percent.

Percent of budget from state aid: 32 percent.

Proposition 2: Purchase six replacement buses at a cost of $532,400, with zero impact on taxes.

Polls open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Grand Island High School's gymnasium, 1100 Ransom Road.

Grand Island schools' spending plan has a 7.6 percent tax rate increase. The budget has a spending increase of 6.6 percent. And it also calls for districtwide cuts to conserve costs, including increased class sizes, fewer field trips and every-other-day cleaning. Voters also will elect three candidates to the School Board, where there are three seats open. Current School Board members Neil Seaman and Dave Goris are not seeking re-election. The candidates are running for three-year terms.

They are: George E. Casey, 73, who is seeking re-election; Glenn J. Bobeck, 40; and James T. Hanna, 48.