Western New York School Board and Budget Election Results

As we inch closer to the warmer months and the end of the 2025/26 school year, there is perhaps only one thing that Western New Yorkers have spent as much time talking about and discussing more than the Buffalo Sabres historic playoff run, it's local municipal budgets.

I know that I have to accept, but it's true. In many parts of Western New York, we pay some of the highest taxes in the Empire State, and a big chunk of that comes from funding our public school system.

Even though kids normally return to school in early September, the actual school year begins on July 1st annually. Now, before things can get going for the new school year, communities and school districts around the nation start their financial planning and hold elections to vote on members of the school board and the next year's budget in May.

KEEP READING: How Does Buffalo’s Taxes Compare To Neighboring Towns

Now, school board and budget day have come and gone, and the results of these votes will impact our kids for the next year.

Western New York's Biggest School Districts Made Big Decisions

The voting polls for school budgets and boards closed on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 9 pm, and according to data from both the Erie County and Niagara County Board of Elections, some multi-million dollar decisions were made by voters.

Amherst Central, Williamsville Central, Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda, Cheektowaga Central, Depew Union Free SD, Hamburg Central, Lackawanna City, Niagara Falls City schools, and more all passed their budgets, while Grand Island Central, West Valley Central, and others did not pass their budgets.

A school system's annual budget is important as millions of taxpayer dollars are doled out to cover student educational expenses. In the City of Niagara Falls, for example, the proposed general school budget exceeded $211 million.

According to data published by both WIVB-TV and the Buffalo News, turnout in this year's school board elections looks extremely low.

The town of Amherst, for example, has 85,095 registered voters according to the Erie County Board of Elections, and only 775 people voted on the $87 million school budget. The same holds true for Ken-Ton, Hamburg, and other districts.