Lockport City School District voters approved an $86.3 million budget today. (HEATHER N. GRIMMER / CONTRIBUTOR)

Voters turn down proposed sale of Washington Hunt

ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

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Ultimate Physique offered Lockport City School District voters $65,000 for the Washington Hunt Elementary School. Voters turned them down. (FILE PHOTO)

Lockport City School District voters approved the budget and exemptions for veterans, but said "no" to selling the former Washington Hunt Elementary School.

The $86,328,656 budget, approved by a total of 1,149 to 502, is an increase of 3.93 percent, bringing with it a $36.04 million tax levy, up 2.26 percent. That means that district residents will see a property tax rate of $25.93 per $1,000 of assessed property value, up 2.21 percent.

While the veteran exemption question was offered only as a "non-binding advisory vote," it is expected that the board will listen to residents — who approved the measure by a vote total of 895 to 611 — to give veterans as much as a 25 percent break on their school taxes, depending on type of service.

The Washington Hunt building was to be sold to Ultimate Physique for $65,000 if voters had approved that measure, but voters disagreed with the sale of the building by a vote of 805-772 — a two percent margin. It is unknown what may become of the building now.

With only three candidates running for three seats, David Nemi, Jon Williams and John Craig were all assured seats on the board. Nemi received 1,187 votes while Williams and Craig each received 1,100.

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