Voters in school districts across the state head to the polls today to vote on school budgets, fill board of education seats and approve purchase for the coming school year.

In Oneonta, school Superintendent David Rowley says the Board of Education had a lot of tough choices to make this year in the proposed budget, which represents a 2.7 percent total tax levy increase.

"The cuts are a byproduct of the fact that there are significant increases on the retirement system, contributions by the district and also health insurance," Rowley said. "Obviously the only way you can control those is you have less employees that you have to pay salaries to and benefits. Unfortunately, that's where we are.

"There were cuts to art, P.E., social studies, English, mathematics, science, extracurriculars, and athletics," he added.

All Oneonta City School District residents will vote at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center today from noon to 9 p.m.

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