Niagara County voters approve school budgets, elect BOE candidates

Numerous propositions win approval in districts

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Niagara County voters spoke their minds on the future Tuesday, with school budget referendums approved and school board candidates elected.

 Taking a look at school districts in western Niagara County:

•Lewiston-Porter voters approved the $55,880,177 budget by a count of 532-159. The approved 2025-26 plan reflects a 2.10% district increase in spending for the coming year. Elected school board members for include Chris Bragdon, with 455 votes, for a three-year term; Susan Rhodenizer, 412 votes, for a three-year term; and Annie Huntington, 331 votes, also for a three-year term.

Proposition No. 2, which involves the transfer of ownership of the former Lew-Port district administrative offices property on Creek Road to the Town of Lewiston, was approved 619-65. The Lewiston Police Department has been using the property for several years as its headquarters and is expected to continue.

For more information on the results, visit www.lew-port.com.

•In the Niagara Wheatfield district voters approved the $91,099,697 budget by a count of 464 to 143. It represents a $4,027,468 spending increase over last year.

In voting for the two open seats on Board of Education, Robert McDermott (513 votes) and Steve Sabo (454) won, while Veron Lohan finished third (139 votes). Niagara-Wheatfield voters also approved three district propositions: No. 2 (bussing), by a count of 480-129; No. 3 (technology), 495-113; and No. 4 (capital reserve fund), 460-133.

For more information on the NW results, visit www.nwcsd.org.

•In the North Tonawanda Central School District, voters approved a $83,000,000 budget by a measure of 457-157. The plan represents a $510,000 reduction in spending from the 2024-25 school year.

The four open seats on the North Tonawanda Board of Education will be taken by Chloe Mulvaugh, (452 votes), Dennis Garland (446 votes), Melissa Kimbrell (445 votes) and Jeffrey Zellner (316 votes).

North Tonawanda voters approved Proposition No. 1, for funding on the district’s capital reserve and transportation reserve accounts, by a vote of 480-130.

For more information on the North Tonawanda results, visit www.ntschools.org.

•Wrapping up, voters in the Wilson Central School District approved the $30,813,589 budget by a count of 203-83. The plan reflects balanced budget of anticipated revenues and expenses for district residents.

Two open seats on Wilson Board of Education went to incumbents Jason Woolson (245 votes) and Kathleen Stewart (224). Wilson voters approved Proposition No. 2, for a new capital improvements reserve fund (206-81); Proposition No. 3, to establish a technology equipment reserve fund (220-78); and Proposition No. 4, to purchase equipment for the district (222-64).

For more information on the Wilson district results, visit www.wilsoncsd.org.