Three area school budgets put before voters Tuesday were approved by wide margins.

Cooperstown Central School's 2006-2007 budget passed by a vote of 534 to 304. The spending plan calls for appropriations of $15,083,809, a 4.9 increase over the current plan. The projected average tax levy increase will be 2.85 percent.

"On behalf of the board of education, district staff and students, I would like to express our appreciation to community members for their support," said superintendent Mary Jo McPhail Wednesday morning.

Three candidates ran unopposed for three three-year terms on the school board. Incumbents Rosemary Craig and Jean Schifano received 631 and 624 votes respectively and newcomer Susan Mulligan received 646 votes.

Voters in the Milford Central School district approved a spending plan which increases spending by 5.62 percent or $425,664 totaling $7,997,120. The estimated average increase in the tax levy will be about 5.99 percent.

Superintendent Peter Livshin was unavailable for comment Wednesday morning.

Incumbents Joanne Bliss and Thomas Brennan were reelected to the board to serve three-year terms. Brennan received 275 votes, Bliss 243 and challenger Richard Young fell short with 171 votes.

Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School's proposed budget was approved by a vote of 363 to 218. Spending will increase 4 percent for a total of $10,397,790. The projected average tax levy increase will be 3.1 percent.

"I'm happy that the budget passed," said superintendent Nicholas Savin. "We did our best to meet the students' needs in the most cost-effective way and we're happy that the community continues to support our students."

Six candidates ran for three openings for the CV-S school board. Incumbents Ellen Johnson and Donald Drake were reelected to five-year terms and Peter Freehafer edged out the three other candidates for a one-year unexpired term.

Drake received 473 votes, Johnson 327, Freehafer 266, Justin Thalheimer 254, Jeffrey Wait 176 and Johnnie Nemec 84.

Savin said he was pleased with who the voters chose, but said all of the candidates would have made fine school board members.