Liberty Central School District Prepares New Budget for May 2024 Vote: What Local Residents Need to Know

The Liberty Central School District is preparing a budget for voter approval on May 21, 2024. This year, the district is using a new budgeting model that starts from zero and uses past data to identify needs. The goal is to avoid overspending and ensure a quality education. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan supports this approach.

The first budget presentation was on February 27, 2024, with a follow-up on March 12, 2024. The district's tax levy cap is $18,690,105, an increase of $929,943 from the current year. This cap, often called a 2% tax cap, is based on several factors, including tax base growth rate.

The district's cap allows for a 5.24% increase. The final increase, if any, will be decided when the budget is finalized. State aid won't be confirmed until the state budget is passed. However, the district expects a slight increase of $285,605 in Foundation Aid. Total state aid is expected to increase by $1,766,979.

The budget committee, administration, and board aim to have a full budget proposal by the end of March 2024. The proposal will be presented at the Board of Education meeting on April 2, 2024, and is expected to be approved on April 16, 2024. These meetings will be at 6:30 p.m. in the high school media center.

A public hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in the high school auditorium. The budget vote will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The Liberty Central School District is committed to creating a budget that aligns with its mission and goals, and provides a quality education for its students.

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