The Onteora School Board approved a $58,786,143 budget to send to voters that calls for a 1.78 percent tax increase.
The proposed budget increases spending by $847,601, or 1.46 percent over the current 2020-21 budget of $57,938,542. The tax levy is estimated at $45,557,126, an increase of $798,588 or 1.78 percent.
The budget increases summer school funding to address increased academic support needed for students to catch up after missing in-person instruction. It also increases funding for after-school homework help and supervision and provides for mental health support to help students adjust to the anticipated full-time in-person learning in the 2021-22 school year.
It also addresses equipment requests including a new transportation van, a pickup truck, mower and floor scrubber.
Funds are included for a full-time social studies teacher on special assignment at Bennett Elementary and a 0.6 full-time-equivalent high school science teacher “to allow the high school to offer courses based on student need and graduation requirements,” assistant superintendent for business Monica LaClair said.
The budget calls for the use of $2,025,000 from the fund balance to offset the tax levy increase and $750,000 transfer to planned capital projects at the each school building, bringing the total expected capital spending to around $1.75 million.
Voters will also be asked to decide on a $10 million capital reserve fund to be used for projects over the next ten years.
Voting is May 18 from 2-9 p.m. at Bennett, Phoenicia and Woodstock elementary schools. Voters can cast their ballot at any of the three schools. They are not required to go to their home area.
Absentee ballot applications can be downloaded on the district website by going to the school board section or directly at https://www.onteora.k12.ny.us/board-of-education/vote-election. Voters can also contact district clerk Fern Amster at (845) 657-6383 to have a ballot sent or pick one up in the district office.
The absentee ballots will be sent out after the April 19 deadline to file for school board trustee candidacy.
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