Schoharie Central School District residents will vote on a $25.9 million proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year.
The fiscal plan has an overall increase of 1.63 percent – or $416,418 – from the current year. However, for the second year in a row the district is proposing a budget that decreases the overall tax levy.
Under the fiscal plan, which will be voted on by district residents from noon to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, May 17, the tax levy would go down by 1.84 percent. A 3 percent increase in New York State Foundation Aid will help allow the district to enhance student academic services and support, while reducing the overall local tax burden. Voting will be held in the hallway outside of the Jr./Sr. High School gym, which can be accessed by the set of doors there.
Voters will also decide on a Capital Project and Energy Performance Project;; select three candidates for the Schoharie CSD Board of Education; decide on a school bus purchases; and weigh in on a Repair Reserve Fund and support for the Schoharie Free Library.
The proposed budget for 2022-23 includes new funding for textbooks, math programming and learning materials district wide; a new full-time science teacher at the Jr./Sr. High School; a PE teacher/athletic coordinator position for the Jr./Sr. High School; and a new full-time, in-house IT position that will service the Elementary and Jr./Sr. High School on a daily basis. The district is projecting a $412,000 increase in contractual salaries districtwide and a $45,000 increase in energy costs. There is also an anticipated $119,000 increase in employee health insurance and prescription drug costs.
“The goal of this fiscal plan is to place our students as the top priority, while maintaining fiscal responsibility to our Schoharie taxpayers,” Superintendent David M. Blanchard said. “We must ensure our valued students are college and/or career ready.”
Inflation and Energy costs
With the current rate of inflation at more than 8 percent and high energy costs expected to continue into the next school year, the district was mindful of how this could affect the 2022-23 budget. The fiscal plan accounts for increases in materials, supplies and energy costs.
Tax Levy Limit
The tax levy limit, while sometimes referred to as a “2 percent tax cap,” is set through a state-mandated formula and will often be higher or lower than 2 percent based on the individual circumstances of each district. In some cases, the tax levy limit can be negative. That is the case with this proposed budget, as the state mandated tax levy limit is -1.84 percent. The district is choosing to present a budget that meets this negative tax levy limit. An increase in
state aid and operational efficiencies that are under constant review will allow Schoharie CSD to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of our students even with this negative tax levy limit. Because the district is proposing a budget that meets the tax levy limit, only a simple majority of voters – 50 percent plus one – is needed for it to pass. If approved, the budget would go into effect on July 1, 2022.