State aid increases and unspent federal stimulus money is pushing statewide school spending to an average of $31,929 per pupil.

Chautauqua County schools will average less than that — but nine districts are asking voters to exceed the state average spending per pupil. The data has been collected as part of the state Education Department’s Property Tax Report Card.

Spending proposed in school budgets this year totals $576,227,081, or $31,190,377 (5.72%) more than 2022-23. Enrollment in The Post-Journal and OBSERVER’s circulation areas is projected to increase by 35 students to 20,860 while spending per pupil increases $1,451.31 per student to $27,623.54. While spending is up an average of 5.72%, tax levies average only a 1.64% increase on the backs of a 14.69% state aid increase for regional schools. Unspent federal stimulus funding is also being used in many budgets.

Statewide, according to the Empire Center for Public Policy, one-sixth of school districts statewide plan to spend at least $40,000 a student and 31 districts plan to spend at least $50,000. No Chautauqua County school is proposing to nearly that much per pupil in budgets voters will vote on during Tuesday’s school budget and school board elections, but spending per pupil is increasing in all but two districts — Forestville is proposing to spend $942.10 less per pupil in 2023-24 than it did in 2022-23 and Ripley is proposing to spend $100.44 less per pupil. Frewsburg ($3,395.03), Panama ($2,829.78), Falconer ($2,328.39), Sherman ($2,000.85) and Gowanda ($1,966.09) are proposing the largest spending per pupil increases.

The following is a rundown of county school budgets.

¯ Bemus Point — Bemus Point officials are proposing a $16,648,595 budget that increases spending 3.5% from last year. The tax levy increases 1.76%. The district is receiving 4.5% more in state aid. Spending per pupil increases $1,483.96 from $24,408.10 to $25,892.06. There are also three propositions on the ballot for voters: the purchase of two 66-passenger replacement school buses, authorization of a $2.43 million capital project and authorization of local library funding requests from the Bemus Point and Fluvanna Free libraries. The capital improvement project includes renovation of a 1964 elevator, classroom HVAC improvements, cafeteria renovations and track surface improvements. There are two open positions on the Board of Education, with candidates including Vincent Horrigan, who was appointed to fill a vacancy when Benjamin Gerring resigned, Jason Yohe and Elizabeth “Betsy” Healy.

¯ Brocton — Brocton Central School officials propose an $18,613,309 budget that increases spending 2.65% and increases the district’s tax levy 3.69%. Brocton received a 10.61% state increase in this year’s state budget and is proposing to increase spending per pupil by $1369.27 from $30,889.50 to $32,258.77. Voters also will decide on a resolution to create a $750,000 transportation reserve fund to purchase buses or other similar equipment and vehicles.

¯ Cassadaga Valley — The Cassadaga Valley budget up for approval increases spending $2.59% to $25,547,892 while increasing the tax levy 2.98%. The district received a 3% increase in state aid for 2023-24. Spending per pupil is projected to increase $1,040.56 to $32,014.90. There are three candidates for one seat on the Board of Education: incumbent Diane Ellsworth and challengers Jack Anderson and Laura Fiorella. For more information on the candidates, visit www.cvcougars.org/page/budget-vote-and-board-election.

¯ Chautauqua Lake — Chautauqua Lake Central School officials propose a $23,447,410 budget that increases spending 3.19% with a 1.61% tax levy increase. The district is projected to receive a 3% state aid increase while proposing to increase spending per pupil from $29,298.96 to $31,003.07, or $1,704.11. There are four seats on the Board of Education open with six candidates: Robert Reynolds, Jennifer Obert, Melissa Putney, Jessup Baker, Zach Stahlsmith and Travis Bensink. All candidates are running at-large.

¯ Clymer — Clymer officials are proposing a 2.5% spending increase, with the budget totaling $12,023,133. The tax levy is projected to increase 4.63%. Clymer was one of several districts receiving a 3% state aid increase. Spending per pupil is projected to increase $1,493.81 to $32,940.09.

¯ Dunkirk — Dunkirk officials are proposing a 7.74% increase in spending in the 2023-24 budget to $56,450,685 while increasing taxes 1.99%. The district is receiving 19.37% more state aid in 2023-24. Spending per pupil increases $775.77 to $27,604.25 per pupil in 2023-24.

¯ Falconer — Falconer Central School administrators are proposing a $29,515,418 budget that increases spending 8.93% with no change to the district’s tax levy. Falconer received a 26.83% increase in state aid. Spending per pupil increases $2,328.39to $27,553,04. There are two school board candidates on the ballot: Heather Cardot and Marc Wilcox, both incumbents finishing their first year on the board.

¯ Forestville — Forestville officials propose a $135,087 increase in spending with a $13,643,847 budget that comes with no tax levy increase. Forestville received a 4.83% increase in state aid. Spending per pupil in this year’s budget proposal decreases $942.10 to $31,221.62.

¯ Fredonia — Fredonia Central School officials are proposing a 7.84% spending increase to $34,434,570 while increasing the district’s tax levy 3.25%. The district is projected to receive an additional 20.99% in state aid. Spending per pupil increases $1,296.03 to $22,002.92, the lowest spending per pupil among Chautauqua County schools. There is a proposition on the ballot approving the addition of ex-officio student members of the Board of Education.

¯ Frewsburg — Frewsburg voters will vote on a 9.37% spending increase. The budget totals $22,458,160 and increases the tax levy by 2%. Frewsburg received a 17.31% increase in state aid as part of the recently enacted state budget. Spending per pupil increases $3,395.03 to $33,026.71. There is also a proposition on the budget to purchase two diesel-powered buses costing $350,000, though state aid will pay 90% of the cost.Jason Ruhlman and Thomas Fenton are running unopposed for two positions on the school board.

¯ Gowanda — Gowanda Central School is proposing a 6.45% spending increase to $36,417,812 with a tax levy increase of 1%. The district’s spending per pupil would increase $1,966.09 to $33,908.58. Propositions on the budget include purchasing two 66-passenger school buses from the district’s Vehicle Purchase Reserve Fund; increasing the value of the Transportation Reserve Fund to $9.5 million; and authorizing the Gowanda Free Library to increase its funding from $58,000 to $59,000. There are two open seats on the Board of Education with Zachary C. Nobles and Mark D. Nephew running unopposed.

¯ Jamestown — The Jamestown Public Schools (see page C1 for information on school board candidates) is proposing a $101,475,978 budget that increases spending 8.08% with no tax levy increase. Jamestown saw its state aid increase 15.99%. Spending per pupil increases $1,587.20 to $22,550.22.

¯ Panama — Panama Central School’s proposed 2023-24 budget comes in at $13,918,229, a spending increase of 2.93% that comes with no tax levy increase. Panama received a 3% increase in state aid for the coming year. Spending per pupil increases $2,829.78 to $33,217.73. There are two candidates running unopposed for the Board of Education, incumbents Robert Delahoy and Gregory Hudson.

¯ Pine Valley — Pine Valley Central School’s budget increases 5.34% to $18,547,777 with a proposed tax levy increase of 2.98%. The district received a 6.92% increase in state aid and is projected to increase spending per pupil $1,794.05 to $35,396.52. District residents will also vote on a proposition to add a student representative to the Board of Education. Board of Education candidate include Angelica Astry, Jeffrey Chase, Kara Frontuto and Christie Lokietek.

¯ Randolph — Randolph Central School officials are proposing a 3.9% increase in spending to $21,745,376 with a 1% tax levy increase. The district’s spending per pupil increases $1,382.06 to $25,139.16. There are two seats open on the Board of Education with incumbents Louise Boutwell and David Adams running unopposed.

¯ Ripley — Ripley Central School, which tuitions its high school students to Chautauqua Lake, is projected to spend $9,609,413 (a .26% decrease) in 2023-24 with a .79% tax levy increase. The district received a 3% state aid increase. Spending per pupil is projected to decrease $100.44 to $39,062.65. District residents will be asked to vote on a proposition to spend 4$268,820 on one 65-passenger school bus and two Chevrolet Suburbans.

¯ Sherman — Sherman Central School officials propose a $12,115.391 budget that increases spending 8.4% with a tax levy increase of 1.5% proposed. The district received a 14.26% increase in state aid. Spending per pupil is projected to increase $2,000.85 to $28,175.33. Residents will also vote on a proposition to purchase two school buses for $319,908 and an $11,950,000 capital project. District officials say the use of reserve funds towards the project would reduce the amount to $11,050,000 and any state aid received for the project would reduce the taxpayer burden further. There is one open seat on the Board of Education with incumbent Teresa Guzman running unopposed.

¯ Silver Creek — Silver Creek Central School voters will see a budget proposal of $28,105,159 that increases spending 2.31% with no tax levy increase. The district is receiving a 14.56% increase in state aid. Spending per pupil is projected to increase $1,006.83 to $$28,504.22. Gregory Cole is running unopposed for the lone open seat on the Board of Education.

¯ Southwestern — Southwestern Central School’s 2023-24 budget is projected to increase 7.17% to $33,113,563 with a 2.5% tax levy increase. State aid increases 25.30% to boost district revenues. Spending per pupil increases $1,862.38 to $25,413.33. There are three candidates running unopposed for the Board of Education — Kurt Gustafson, Rich Hartmann and Troy Durnell.

¯ Westfield — Westfield Academy and Central School voters will see a budget of $18,121,589, an increase of 5.84% that comes with a .49% increase in the district’s tax levy. The district benefits from a 21.08% state aid increase. Spending per pupil increases $1,451.98 to $27,793.85. There is also a proposition to establish a Capital Improvements Reserve Fund with a contribution limit of $5,000,000 plus any interest over a probable term of 12 years. There are two positions on the Board of Education up for election. Candidates are Cassandra Farrell, Kimberly Maras and Andrew Thompson.