fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Onteora voters will decide on $57.4 million budget with 3 percent tax levy

by Jacob Anderson
May 19, 2019
in Education
0
As weather warms, school dress code for girls comes under scrutiny

Residents of the Onteora school district will vote on the proposed $57,403,498

budget for the coming school year on Tuesday, May 21, as well as a separate proposal to use $6,160,000 from the district’s capital reserves to bring bathrooms and other facilities into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, repair the Bennett Elementary Roof and improve athletic facilities. While there was no public to comment at the state-mandated public hearing on May 7, members of the board and administration say they have been presenting the budget to PTAs, local towns and senior groups.

Here is a summary of the numbers:

The upcoming budget is $1,825,920, or 3.28 percent, higher than last year’s $55,577,578.

The proposed tax levy, $43,848,763, is 2.95 percent higher than last year’s $42,591,819. The maximum allowable increase is actually 3.04 percent, $39,000 higher than what is proposed, but after a “formula error” in an earlier proposal put the number at 2.95 percent, the district went with that, Superintendent Victoria McLaren said, because the tax levy limit “is perceived as a percentage.”

“We wanted to honor that,” she said, adding that more state aid could further reduce the levy.  “If given the opportunity, we will lower the burden on the taxpayers,” she said.

$2,515,620 would already be appropriated through a fund balance to reduce the tax levy, along with $750,000 for additional capital work on the chemistry lab, press box and bleachers.

Transportation spending would go up $691,641, as part of the winning bid by First Student, which beat out the current provider, Arthur F. Mulligan. The district estimates spending $3,202,172 next year getting students to and from school, $144,000 on field trips and sports trips and $128,763 for summer school. 

Transportation makes up 8.54 percent of the total budget. Just under half, 48.3 percent, will be spent on instruction, and just under a third, 31.05 percent, on employee benefits. Board President Kevin Salem said the healthcare costs for the district have risen over the years, something he describes as “an American problem.” At the board’s April 24 meeting, superintendent McLaren said the number of active employees and retirees in the district is “almost equal.” Trustee Bennet Ratcliff said the district is “having to pay more because we’re being gouged in our insurance rates and medical costs.” Operations and maintenance takes up 5.01 percent. Debt service and interfund transfers make up 3.64 percent, as does general support. 

If the budget does not receive 50 percent of the vote, the district can change it, or not, and it can be put to a vote again on June 18. If it fails again, a contingency budget will be implemented: the tax levy would remain at last year’s amount of $42,591,819, a potential loss of $1,295,944 in revenue, according to a page in the district’s presentation that uses the 3.04 percent levy limit figure. The district would also not be allowed to purchase equipment, for which it has proposed $217,555, fees would be charged for use of facilities, and the property tax rebate would be disallowed, according to the district proposal.

Salem said the budget “reflects our commitment to our kids.”

“Our priorities are excellence and diversity for our students,” he added.


Where and when to vote

The May 21 vote on the budget, as well as for two open board seats, will take place between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Bennett, Phoenicia and Woodstock Schools. The West Hurley fire house is no longer a polling place. 

Any qualified voter can vote in any of the three elementary schools: Woodstock, Bennett (in Boiceville) and Phoenicia.

Thank you for reading Hudson Valley One. We rely on your support to continue providing local, substantive news. Please check out our subscription options to keep local journalism alive in the Hudson Valley.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

Taming the wild forest

Next Post

Bill calls for New York State to achieve fossil-fuel-free energy by 2030

Jacob Anderson

Related Posts

Local school districts respond to possible cuts in state funding
Education

School budgets cruise to approval

May 18, 2022
SUNY New Paltz prepares for two weekends of smaller, in-person commencement ceremonies
Education

SUNY New Paltz celebrates commencement May 20-22

May 17, 2022
Saugerties and Ellenville students compose a collaborative poem called Behind the Mask
Community

Saugerties and Ellenville students compose a collaborative poem called Behind the Mask

May 11, 2022
Local school districts respond to possible cuts in state funding
Education

A roundup of local school budget proposals

May 11, 2022
Dr. Darrell Wheeler takes the reins as SUNY New Paltz’s post-pandemic president
Education

Dr. Darrell Wheeler takes the reins as SUNY New Paltz’s post-pandemic president

May 10, 2022
Onteora announces Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Principal’s Award Recipient
Education

Onteora announces Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Principal’s Award Recipient

May 10, 2022
Next Post
Learn how you can “Zone Out Fossil Fuel Power Plants” in New Paltz

Bill calls for New York State to achieve fossil-fuel-free energy by 2030

Trending News

  • Bubbe’s Deli opens in Gardiner’s former Mountain Harbor 1.6k views
  • Saugertes man faces multiple charges after domestic disturbance 1k views
  • The moon is down in Central Hudson 723 views
  • Expanded High Falls museum provokes rich insights 349 views
  • Ryan and Molinaro run for Congress, Gallagher available to move up 300 views







Latest HV1 Podcast

Weather

Kingston
◉
73°
Sunny
5:32am8:12pm EDT
Feels like: 73°F
Wind: 2mph NNW
Humidity: 20%
Pressure: 29.91"Hg
UV index: 4
ThuFriSat
70/50°F
82/63°F
97/68°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Ulster County COVID-19 Active Cases

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In

© 2022 Ulster Publishing