By CRAIG FREILICH

NORWOOD -- The fact that there was no tax increase for Norwood-Norfolk Central School taxpayers in the $22.1 million 2016-17 budget made it easier for voters to overwhelmingly approve it in voting Tuesday.

The tally was 177-13 in favor.

“We decided that with the infusion of foundation and state aid we did not need to go to the taxpayers” for more funds, said Superintendent James Cruikshank.

“And they were due” for a break, he said.

“They’ve had a number of increases, some moderate but some tremendous tax increases” in recent years, so the zero-percent tax increase this time “certainly did help,” he said.

The situation in the district has improved to the point where they are beginning to restore some of the positions lost to the budget axe in the last few years.

Cruikshank said the district is adding one elementary teacher, a half-time physical education position and a half-time social studies teacher.

And he said they are using state “community school” funding to increase a half-time English position to full time and adding a half-time tech teacher.

Voters also agreed to the purchase of two large and one small school bus, keeping the district on what they believe is an economical seven-year replacement schedule.

The three school board candidates, incumbents Mary Ellen Todd, Jon Hazen and Suzanne Fiacco, will be returning to the board.

“There was low turnout” for the district voting, Cruikshank said, “but I think we expected that because of the zero-percent tax increase and nothing controversial” to vote for or against, he said.

“We’re very pleased with the support the community showed for the school district,” he said.