Watervliet City School District residents Tuesday approved the proposed $28,187,000 budget for the 2019-20 school year with 189 yes votes to 99 no votes, a margin of about 68 percent.

Sheri Senecal was re-elected for a third term to the Board of Education with 162 votes and will serve for another three years beginning July 1. Philip DiPompei received 109 votes .

“The board is extremely grateful for the community’s support,” Board of Education President Sheri Senecal said. “We thank everyone who participated in the process and came out to vote today.”

The 2019-20 budget reflects a 2.83 percent overall spending increase compared to the current year’s budget, and maintains all academic programs and instructional support. Next year’s budget also expands opportunities for career and technical education through BOCES for high school students, increases support for struggling students, and preserves extracurricular programs.

The budget yields a tax levy increase of 2.4 percent, which is below the district’s limit as determined by the state’s tax “cap” law. As such, a simple majority of voters was needed to approve the budget.