Schuylerville Education Board Approves 2024-25 Budget Proposal, Two Board Members Await Election

The Schuylerville Board of Education approved the 2024-25 budget proposal at its regular meeting on April 15. The proposed budget totals $39.4 million and will be presented to voters on May 21. It includes a 2.62% spending increase and an estimated 2.51% tax levy, within the district's tax cap. Individual property tax rates will be determined later in the summer.

The new budget differs from the 2023-24 budget in several ways. It includes salary increases from current contracts, such as those for administration and management ratified last year. Other expenses have been adjusted based on the district's needs, including changes in testing supplies due to a switch to computer-based testing.

The budget proposal also includes reductions. These are due to the non-implementation of the shared HR Service with NERIC, the completion of the new branding and website redesign, a decrease in Tuition to Other Schools, and a decrease in BOCES Technology Services.

However, there are also increases in the budget. These include a 17.25% increase in health insurance, salary increases as per the STA contract, estimated salary increases for CSEA, and an increase in BOCES Special Education program costs. The budget also includes the addition of two Special Education Teachers and two counselors from the ESSR grants, a 3% increase in Career and Technical Education tuition, and the inclusion of Saratoga Center for the Family.

The budget proposal includes cuts in full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in administration, Clerical & Support, Building & Grounds, and the Program (Classroom). Despite these cuts, the elementary school will maintain small class sizes, with an average of 18 students per class and a student to teacher ratio of 12 to 1.

If the proposed budget is not approved, the Board of Education can present another budget for a vote in June or adopt a contingent budget. The contingent budget would include all the previously mentioned cuts, plus an additional $471,293 in reductions. If a contingent budget is adopted, the tax levy cannot increase from the prior year.

This article has been enhanced with AI assistance. Agree to access AI-generated content by clicking here, or opt for content with less AI influence here.