NEW SCOTLAND — The Voorheesville Central School District recently released the results of an exit survey of voters performed on May 18.

The survey, which was voluntary and anonymous, was performed during the district’s budget and school board elections, and sheds light on voter demographics, voters’ motivations, and concerns related to the recent vote. 

The budget vote was 452, about 76 percent, in favor, and 141, about 24 percent, against. 

Although more than 87 percent of respondents indicated they felt they had adequate information about the budget proposal, the report also proposed strategies for enhancing the district’s communication and engagement with residents, including offering more electronic survey options. The report said the district should provide more information about the budget process, decisions, and increase opportunities for community input and feedback.

The report notes, while “these results do not represent the opinions of all voters, they do provide many residents’ perceptions about the district ….”

The report also notes a significant increase in the survey response rate, with 139 voters voluntarily completing the exit survey, a response rate of nearly 23 percent, up from 9 percent last year. 

Respondents between 45 and 64 years old, 44 percent, made up the largest survey cohort, followed by those aged 65 and older, at 28 percent; 25 to 44 years old, at 23 percent; and 18 to 24 years old, at 4 percent.

Over half of half of the respondents, 53 percent, have lived in the district for 20 years or more. 

 In terms of residence, approximately 89 percent of respondents were residents of the 12186 ZIP code for Voorheesville, while the remaining respondents lived in the 12159 ZIP code for part of Delmar and Westmere, at about 8 percent, or in the 12209 ZIP code for Albany, at about 3 percent. 

Of those who voted to approve next year’s school budget, an overwhelming  majority, 83 percent, believed the proposal adequately met student needs. 

Additionally, 56 percent agreed with district decision-making and 51 percent considered the proposed tax increase reasonable.

Among respondents who voted against the budget, half stated that the proposed tax increase wasn’t reasonable, while a third disagreed with the decisions made by the district, and a fifth felt the proposal did not adequately meet the needs of students.

Additionally, over a quarter of respondents who voted against next year’s school budget cited other reasons for their “no” vote, including concerns about inflation and the overall state of the economy.