Lawrence schools budget approved; Forman, Mansdorf win re-election

Posted

Updated June 17 at 7:15 a.m.

In what is considered the most unprecedented school election; voting by mail-in ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Lawrence School District budget was approved by a count of 3,906 to 1,461, after hand counting the ballots began at 5 p.m., on Tuesday.

The 2020-21 budget will be $102,490,053, a .04 increase over the current $102 million fiscal plan. Both the tax levy — the amount of money the district collects through property taxes — and state aid remains flat. The tax levy is $85,954,300 and state aid is expected to be $12,880,421, same as the present budget.

Incumbent Board of Education Trustees Murray Forman and Asher Mansdorf, the current board president and vice president, were re-elected to the three-year terms. Forman fended off a challenge from Amil Virani 4,215 to 1,116 and Mansdorf defeated Asher Matathias 4,272 to 1,039.

Proposition 3, to create a building capital reserve fund for up to $4 million for reconstruction and renovation at the high school and middle school, won approval — 3,439 to 1,731. Proposition 4, to establish a building capital reserve fund for up to $5 million for more work at the high school and middle school, was OK’d — 2,506 to 1,361.

The Peninsula Public Library budget of $3.112 million was passed – 4,052 to 1,316. Trustee Audrian Gray ran unopposed for another five-year term. She received 3,296 votes.