Nearly 98 Percent Of School District Budgets Approved Statewide

New York state voters approved nearly 98 percent of school district budgets on Tuesday.

That's according to an analysis by the New York State School Boards Association.

That number is down slightly from just over 99 percent in 2017.

Initial statewide results indicate voters passed 653 school district budgets. The number of budgets defeated was 16, while the NYSSBA was still awaiting results for seven districts.

School districts statewide proposed an average tax levy increase of 2.14 percent for 2018-19.

"School boards and their leadership teams put together budgets that were fiscally restrained yet responsive to the needs of their communities," said NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy Kremer.