FULTON, NY – Though down by one vote at the close of polls Tuesday, the results of the Fulton Public Library proposition requesting a $50,000 increase in operating money overturned Wednesday after six challenge votes were deemed valid.
In the end, the proposition received two more votes in favor of the request than opposed.
“All six of the challenge votes were valid,” said Trudy Winfield, secretary to Fulton School Superintendent Bill Lynch.
The vote Tuesday evening came in at 544-543 against the request. With the challenge votes counted into the total, the vote changed to 548 in favor of the proposition to 546 opposed.
Winfield noted that the library proposition was the only outcome that was close enough to be affected by the challenge votes.
The vote will increase the funding that the library receives from Fulton school district taxpayers from $40,000 to $90,000. The money is collected through the school district’s tax bills and turned over to the library.
“I’m elated,” said Marion Stanton, head of the library’s board of trustees. “I am really excited to see that the library was successful. It is a big win for all of the people in the city of Fulton.”
When it appeared the request was defeated, Stanton said that the library would have to make immediate changes that included reducing hours and services. Wednesday, she said that she is more optimistic that the library can work to pull through until the new funding is available.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to maintain services between now and when the money comes in this fall,” Stanton said. “We will still be going through a gap period where the money just isn‘t there.
“I’m very glad that we’re able to do this without cutting services,” Stanton noted. “It is excellent that we are able to go forward and serve our Fulton constituency to the very best of our ability.”
Winfield said that the Fulton Board of Education is slated to accept the results from Tuesday’s vote next week. The regular board meeting that would have been held May 27 was changed to May 28 because of the Memorial Day holiday.
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I smell a rat! Who did the counting? Where is the over sight? I demand a recount! This is just way to fishy first they lose by one vote then miracle happens and what do you know it passes by one vote. David I am asking you to do some investigative journalism and look into the results and to ask that it be recounted with observers present. I knew this town had corruption issues but this is way to obvious
This makes no sense. The first vote was 544-543 Against it. Then there were 6 challenge votes? There had to be 7. 548-546. There were 2 votes against it, and then 5 for it. That makes 7. Not 6.
When the people are no longer allowed to question the governements that affect us we lose control over our own freedoms and liberties. Those are the principles that this country was founded on. I would like further details on the vote count as I hope the board would before they approve the results. My math came up with a 7 vote difference as well. Mark, I would hope that you will be at the board meeting on the 28th to hear this question answered as well. I will be there to ask the question!
David Carvey