Local School Districts Ready to Present Budgets

By Liz Page

It has been a difficult year for the majority of the state's  school districts as the Governor’s budget eliminated foundation aid, which would have significantly reduced state aid and threatened staffing and programming. There was a collective sigh of relief when the Governor reinstated foundation aid, which has allowed districts to maintain staffing levels and programs, with the "save harmless" reinstated. However, there was no increase in aid to account for inflation and ever increasing costs .

Some budget newsletters are just going into the mail this week as local districts waited to hear what the  outcome of negotiations on the final state budget would be. It was good news and the Governor has promised funding to study the foundation aid.

There is  concern about future cuts and late budgets that make it difficult for districts to develop their budgets.

"School leaders across the state are still surprised and perplexed by the Governor’s proposed cuts," states Stamford Central School Superintendent Dr. Glen Huot.  "There is real concern about the future related to timely state budgets and the Governor’s comments about the future of school aid cuts.   High needs, rural, school districts like Stamford need timely, consistent, fair, and equitable funding which will allow us to plan for the future to support our students and our community."  

The enacted state budget includes funding in the amount of $2 million dollars for a Foundation Aid study to be completed by the SUNY Rockefeller Institute of Government.   The study will be completed by December 1, 2024, before the Governor’s Executive Budget is shared in January 2025.   The study will include input from stakeholder groups like NYSED, NYS Division of Budget, and other state agencies.    

Charlotte Valley Central School Superintendent Eric Whipple said  it is a concern. "The Governor has made it  clear that there will be changes in the funding of school districts. We need to be aware and advocate for fair funding for our students in our small school districts," he said.

There are questions over the Foundation Aid study as well. It is being done in a short time frame, will it be enough time to study the issues of a complex formula and to get input from all the stakeholders.

Whipple said small rural school districts deserve the opportunity to provide a quality education, just like the larger institutions.  They must meet the same mandates as larger school districts.

Charlotte Valley Central 

DAVENPORT –  District residents attended a budget hearing at Charlotte Valley Central School on May 7. The proposed $12,483,189 budget is up 3.24 percent from the current budget. It projects a 2.34 percent increase in the tax levy, which is  well below the allowable tax cap of 6.21 percent.

Voting will take place on May 21 from noon to 8 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

The proposed 2023-2024 budget will fund: all current positions; will continue the elementary AIS Math Reading teacher professional development opportunities; field trips for each grade level; the distance learning platform; a $100,000 outlay for the capital project; the purchase of a school bus and all extra curricular activities.  

It also funds: the Career and Technical Education and alternative educational programming; the strategic planning team and development; a full time library media specialist and an increase in the athletic scorekeeper fee.

Incumbent school board member, Joe Ballard, is unopposed as he seeks re-election to his expiring three-year term.

The district is proposing the purchase of one van for student transportation and ancillary educational purposes at a cost not to exceed $60,000.

"The board and I worked hard to keep the budget within a reasonable increase, by cutting costs without affecting student programming," said CVCS Superintendent Eric Whipple.

This year's budget process was a challenge as they stood to lose $325,000 in aid in the Governor’s original proposal. Fortunately, he said, the state Legislature was able to get back the "save harmless" portion, to allow them to receive the same amount of state aid. "It was positive compared to the original proposal."

While there  was no increase in the Foundation Aid, he said they have managed to keep all the programming intact.They did this during a time of inflation and rising costs for almost everything.

Stamford Central School

STAMFORD –  There are four candidates running for two seats on the Stamford Central School Board of Education. There will be an opportunity to meet the candidates on May 14, during the annual budget hearing on the proposed 2023-2024 budget. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Room 113 at the school. Elections and the school budget vote, along with other propositions will take place from noon to 8 p.m. on May 21 at the school.

In addition to the budget , district voters will decide on the purchase of a 35-passenger bus, the cost not to exceed $138,969, which will be paid from the bus reserve or unappropriated fund balance. 

A proposition to purchase computers, information technology infrastructure and related technology, not to exceed $100,000, will appear on the ballot and will be paid for with an established technology reserve fund or unappropriated balance.

There are two expiring three-year terms on the school Board of Education, presently held by Ellen Hager and Darby Hartwell. Candidates for the two terms include: Stacey Vasta, Katie Cannon, Katy Barber-Graves and Lucas Flachs.

The annual budget newsletters have been mailed to district residents.

The Governor’s budget increased Foundation Aid by 3.9 percent, fully restoring the "save harmless" cuts originally proposed. "The Stamford Board of Education and the District were thrilled with the news," states Huot,  because they were looking at an $800,000 cut in state aid. "I want to thank all of our faculty and staff, parents, and community for reaching out to state legislators to advocate for our school and fair and equitable funding. Those efforts paid off."

The budget proposal is $10,999,975 and an increase of $213,105 over the current budget or a 1.98 percent hike. It falls within the allowable tax cap of 2.55 percent. It will provide academic programs, interscholastic sports, extra curricular programming and the ability  to keep safe and update the facilities.

The proposed budget is the culmination of four budget advisory workshops, which included community input. 

Phase II of the construction project approved by voters on Dec. 8, 2022  included a $7.3 million capital project, with repair of the roof a major component. The project does not pose any additional tax increase, however, when the construction bids came in this spring, all the bids were over budget.   This required the board to work with the architects on value-engineering and to prioritize the work list for the capital project, according to Huot. Since all the items that were planned for could not be completed due to inflationary cost increases, there were project adjustments made, which includes not repairing the masonry wall in the courtyard, re-caulking the windows, or replacing the fuel tanks at the bus garage. The work includes continued repair of the roof and security enhancements. This summer, work includes demolition of the cafeteria/kitchen, auditorium repairs, to fix damage caused by the leaking roof, repair of the north stairwell to the gymnasium, classroom floor replacement, classroom door security enhancements and boiler replacement at the building and facilities shop.

South Kortright Central 

SOUTH KORTRIGHT  –  The annual budget hearing South Kortright Central School is set for Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. in Harbaugh Hall. It is an opportunity to review the budget and ask questions. The vote is set from noon to 8 p.m. on May 21 in the gymnasium lobby at the school.

Terri Chichester, currently the president of the board of education, is running unopposed for re-election to a five-year term.

The proposed budget totals $11,473, 774, for the new school year which begins July 1.The proposed budget is up $245,871 from the current budget, a 2.19 percent increase and remains within the allowable 2.17 percent tax cap. "We are planning to use $220,000 out of our fund balance to apply to the budget," stated Superintendent Douglas Wyant Jr. 

The other proposition voters will decide is the purchase of a 65-passenger bus and one suburban. The purchase will be made from the bus reserve fund and will not exceed $230,000.

Included in  the budget is the  Capital Outlay project. It is a facility project not to exceed $100,000 for which the district receives state building aid during the next fiscal year. This year’s capital outlay project will complete the continued replacement of the school's outdated windows.