B-P residents approve budget, bus purchase proposition, re-elect Crane to Board of Education

By a vote of 357 to 128 (73.6%), residents of the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District approved a $44,685,000 budget for the 2026-27 school year. Residents also approved a bus purchase proposition (387 to 98 votes, 79.8% approval rate), and re-elected incumbent Ryan Crane to a third five-year term on the Board of Education (414 votes). Crane was running unopposed for the seat.

The approved budget for the 2026-27 school year calls for a 3.01% spending increase from the 2025-26 school year and a tax levy increase of 3.88%, which is equal to the district's tax levy cap. The approved spending plan preserves all programs, expands secondary course offerings, and allows for the articulation of five career pathways for high school students in the areas of construction and skilled trades, computer and engineering sciences, business, visual arts, and health sciences. The 2026-27 budget also takes advantage of a new BOCES service that allows high school students to take college courses at no cost to their families, with the state reimbursing the district at a 70% rate for associated costs.

The approved bus purchase proposition will allow Broadalbin-Perth to purchase three 66-passenger diesel buses. The state will pay for approximately 75% of the cost of the purchase, and there is no tax increase associated with the bus purchase.

In the fifth annual Kids Vote Too, B-P students in pre-K through grade 6 selected fresh-popped popcorn (50 votes) to be added to the menu at the BPES Snack Shack next school year. The other options were nachos and cheese (33 votes), and pudding cups (27 votes).