All warrant articles passed on ConVal’s ballot during Tuesday’s ballot voting, including a $56,106,282 budget. This budget includes an operating budget of $53,819,282, a 1.35 percent increase over the current year’s operating budget, and all grants and special revenue funds. The budget passed with 1,863-1037 votes – 64 percent voting in favor. 

The school budget passed in all individual towns except for Greenfield where only 40 percent of votes were in favor. It was passed with the highest percentage, 81 percent of votes in favor, in Peterborough. 

The budget is higher this year due in part to inflated costs which have resulted in higher costs of supplies and materials and increased costs of benefits and services. There will also be salary increases as part of the collective bargaining agreement with the ConVal Education Association.

Voters decided to appropriate $500,000 to the Building Capital Reserve Fund to come from the fund balance which will only occur if the district has leftover funds after June 30, 2023. 71 percent of voters voted in favor of the article. A separate article asking for $250,000 to be appropriated to the Building Capital Reserve Fund from the fund balance was also passed with 68 percent of the votes. It was separated so it would appear later on the warrant since articles funded by the fund balance are appropriated in the order they appear.

71 percent of voters approved $125,000 from the fund balance going towards the school district’s Energy Trust Fund which will eventually be used to buy back the district’s solar array to capitalize on additional energy savings.

Voters approved $75,000 to go into the Technology Trust Fund from the fund balance which will be used to acquire and maintain digital equipment and services. The article passed by 73 percent.

73 percent of voters also approved $25,000 to go into the Equipment Trust Fund from the fund balance and 71 percent of voters approves $25,000 to go into the Health Maintenance Fund from the fund balance.

School board seats were elected as follows:

Antrim – William Bryk

Bennington – Michael Hoyt

Francestown – Thomas John Kirlin

Hancock – Dan Harper

Peterborough – Greg Kriebel

Sharon – Jim Fredrickson

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