Perhaps the most interesting outcome from the recent near-unanimous school budget approvals in Erie and Niagara counties was the sheer number of people who turned out, not necessarily to vote down budgets, but to vote out incumbents.

It’s a sentiment that has been spreading across the country and is evidenced by the “tea party” movement and the firing of several federal lawmakers such as Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa.

New York State’s fiscal woes have severely impacted education and that trickle-down effect is hitting the pockets of voters. Many school districts found themselves having to increase taxes in order to meet expenses, and while that is the result of difficult times, voters probably decided that the elected school board members could have managed finances when times were better.

The fact that statewide 92 percent of district budgets were approved, contrary to what the governor anticipated, shows that voters are supporting schools. But supporting a plan doesn’t mean support for the process.

A telling factor in these parts is the number of people who never voted in past school board elections but made sure to vote in this one. Take Marjorie Koller, an office branch administrator quoted in The News, who was a first-time school budget voter at 67 years old. The Maryvale resident was annoyed at the tax increase of more than 11 percent, the highest in Erie County.

And although she voted against the budget, she was in the minority. While the budget managed to get through, the same can’t be said for incumbent Nicholas Giammarise. Maryvale voters decided that 18-year-old Patrick Weisansal, a high school senior who plans to study at Trocaire College in the fall, looked a lot better in the seat. Voters want a fresh perspective and who could blame them?

Such housecleaning does not necessarily translate in Albany, but voters have made it quite clear that they will take some measure of control when it comes to school boards. The message they sent by overwhelmingly approving many of these budgets said that they care about kids and programs but less so about what they view as complacent politicians. The message was delivered loud and clear.