Voters Trickling In To Cast Vote On School Budget

Utica, NY (WIBX) - Voters across the state are still heading to the polls to cast their vote on school budgets. Dealing with a $1.2 billion dollar cut in state aid, school districts have held the average property tax increase to 3.4 percent, despite Governor Cuomo demanding a 2 percent property tax cap.

A poll worker at Donovan Middle School in Utica says so far voter turn out has been relatively low. "We've had maybe a dozen voters at this station, no more at the other two stations, traffic flow has been good, voter participation has been low. The people just don't get out for the school board or the primaries--more people need to go out and vote," he said.

Tim Kremer, Executive Director of the State School Boards Association says last year 92 percent of school budgets were passed with a 3.2 percent property tax hike. This year, he estimates that at least 90 percent of school budgets will pass today's vote.