Lower Voter Turnout: The Weather or Voter Confidence?

While the soggy weather could have definitely been a factor—school district officials are hoping that the drop in voters in Tuesday’s White Plains School budget and board of education vote can be attributed to residents’ faith in this year’s budget.

The official results show that 1,155 residents voted this year, compared to the 1,949 who voted last year. The 2012-13 budget—an $188.8 million spending plan that will raise taxes by 3 percent—passed with 81 percent of the vote, or 920 voting for and 221 voting against the budget. Click for last year’s vote tally. 

“I’m just thankful that the public has the confidence in our district, and in all of the work we put into budget," said White Plains Board of Education President Rosemarie Eller. “It passed with 81 percent, and that shows a tremendous vote of confidence by our citizens in White Plains. I am ecstatic with those results and we hope to keep working hard, to do more and to really take our kids to the next level and beyond.”

Though she is sad to see Donna McLaughlin retire from the school board after 15 years of service, Eller said she is thrilled that White Plains PTA Council Co-President will be filling her seat on the board.

Lovitch was the second highest vote-getter (she received 922 votes) who ran in the uncontested election, along with incumbents (957 votes) and (915 votes).

Click on each name for a story on that candidate, and here for all of our coverage on the election.

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“I have been on the phone and emailing people thanks yous all day for their support,” said Lovitch, an attorney who has three of two children who currently attend White Plains Schools. “The fact that I am not an incumbent, and got just about an equal number of votes as other two gentlemen, is terrific. It goes to show what great friends I have who came out to support me. I hope I can reach their expectations.”

Lovitch said she was disappointed that there wasn’t a higher voter turnout, though she was pleased the budget passed. 

“We were all concerned going through the [budget] forums and all of the presentation meeting that the turnout was low—it has been all [budget] season,” said Lovitch. “We were concerned that people were maybe feeling apathetic, that their hands were tied—or maybe people were just pleased with what was presented. I’m hoping for the latter and that people realize this was a fair and responsible budget. It would have been nice to see more people come out and positively express their opinion, but I’m glad we were able to convince anyone against it that it was responsible.”

Click to see what voters had to say at the polls. 

The 2012-13 budget carries a tax levy is 2.7 percent, which is under the state mandated 2 percent tax cap and carries a tax rate of $565.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, or an additional $249 per year or $.69 a day for the average White Plains home assessed at $15,000. The 1.77 percent increase over last year’s budget is largely due to the $1.9 million increase in state mandated pension costs.

The spending plan allows for the hiring of three new elementary school teachers; 2.5 library media teachers; a .5 half-time grant writer; an AP Spanish literature class; a new program “Project Lead the Way,” a national engineering program for high school students; and eliminates district-run Universal Pre-Kindergarten.

Click for more details on the budget, here for all of our budget coverage.

Lovitch, who starts her new position on July 1, said she is excited to begin working with her new fellow school board members.

“I’m looking forward to continue the progress that the board has made in expanding opportunities for our kids,” said Lovitch. “I’m hoping well be able to continue to do this, and at the same time meet the financial burdens. I am most concerned with bringing up the students in need of help, and hoping they can they can also be brought up to their peak performance, and that they will also be able to join in with all of the other students that have all these additional opportunities.” 

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