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Cazenovia celebrates Class of 2024
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On June 22, Cazenovia Central School District celebrated its graduating seniors during a ceremony at the high school.
Voters approve school district’s revised 2024-25 budget By kate Hill Staff Writer
On June 18, voters in the Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) approved a revised school budget proposal for the 2024-25 school year. The $38,427,222 budget carries an estimated 4.02 percent tax levy increase and represents a 5.19 percent increase over the 2023-24 budget. Residents approved the revised budget by a vote of 1,127 to 546 after rejecting CCSD’s original $38,826,826 spending proposal by 34 votes on May 21. The district’s original plan was to maintain academic and support programming
while closing this year’s budget gap with an estimated 5.84 percent tax levy increase, the use of $1,641,005 in fund balance, some restored state aid, and $399,295 in spending cuts, including the use of attrition and
the budget by $399,604 by cutting a reading teacher and an instructional coach and making reductions to athletics and technology. In addition, the district has fewer participating employees in its health in-
restructuring of several BOCES services. Two days after the budget proposal was defeated at the polls, the CCSD Board of Education reviewed new recommendations from the district. Ultimately, the board adopted the revised budget proposal, which is at the district’s calculated tax levy limit of 4.02 percent and includes a reduction of $399,604 compared to the rejected
surance, which results in a cost reduction. Because the revised budget does not exceed the tax levy limit, it required a simple majority vote — 50 percent + 1 — for authorization rather than the supermajority — 60 percent or more — needed for the
proposal. According to a message from Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio to the CCSD community, the district will reduce
original budget proposal to pass. If voters had rejected the revised proposal, state law would have required the district to enact a contingency budget, requiring an additional $885,248 in cuts. “We’re thankful to the community for passing this revised budget and supporting
our schools,” DiFulvio said in the message. “It was a difficult budget season, and we’re thankful for everyone who has been involved throughout the process. Although we need to make some reductions under this revised budget, we will continue to provide our students with the best educational experience possible. We’re looking forward to the year ahead.” To learn more about CCSD, visit cazenoviacsd.com. Anyone not directly affiliated with CCSD can sign up for the ParentSquare Community Group to receive newsletters and other information. Sign up at parentsquare.com/ community_signups/94dc9c19-0570-4ecdbd7a-868cb499bc46/new.
Close contest leads to manual recount of the Village of Cazenovia election By kate Hill Staff Writer
Village of Cazenovia voters went to the polls on Tuesday, June 18, to elect two members to the village board of trustees for two-year terms. Four candidates ran for the two open seats. Incumbent trustee Katherine Hahn (Democratic) sought reelection to her position. She has served as the village’s water and fire commissioner since her
election in June 2022. Newcomers Jennifer Marotto Lutter (Caz Forward), Kelly Ryan Vidakovic (Republican, Your Neighborhood Voice), and Colton Mennig (Democratic, Strong Community) ran to fill the seat vacated by Maureen Fellows, who was elected to the board in June 2016 and served as deputy mayor, village police commissioner, and court liaison. After the election, the Madison County Board of Elections (BOE) posted the unofficial results on its website at madi-
soncounty.ny.gov/2128/2024-ElectionResults. The BOE reported that Lutter received 246 total votes, Hahn received 217 votes, Vidakovic received 208, and Mennig received 134. On June 19, the BOE announced that there would be a manual recount due to the close contest between Hahn and Vidakovic. New York State Election Law requires an automatic recount if the margin of victory is 0.5 percent or less.
Volume 214, Number 26 The Cazenovia Republican is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 35 Albany St., Second Floor, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Periodical Postage Paid at Cazenovia, NY 13035, USPS 095-260. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Cazenovia Republican, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206.
SPORTS: Boys track and field celebrate season.
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schools: CCSD holds school merger presentation after Morrisville-Eaton request.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
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The BOE scheduled the recount for Monday, June 24, at 1 p.m. The Cazenovia Republican will report on the election results once they have been made official. The Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees typically meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the village municipal building at 90 Albany St. To learn more about the Village of Cazenovia and the board of trustees, visit villageofcazenovia.com.
Editorial ��������������������� 6
PennySaver ���������������� 8
HISTORY ������������������������ 6
Schools ���������������������� 7
Obituaries ������������������ 5
Sports ����������������������� 14