The Minisink Valley Board of Education unanimously adopted a proposed, revised $113,183,308 budget for the 2023-24 school year, with a 1.65 % tax levy and $1,071,000 in cuts from the initial proposed budget rejected by voters, at its May 24 meeting.
This proposed, revised budget follows the directive of the Board of Education, which asked district administration to prepare a budget that will minimize impacts to the district’s academic program and no cuts to safety and security, at this time, during its May 18 meeting.
The proposed 1.65% increase in the tax levy – total amount of money to be raised through property taxes – is within the New York State tax cap requirement. The proposed budget needs a simple majority to be approved.
Read more: 2023-24 Budget presentation
“The results of the May 16 vote were very close,” said Superintendent Brian Monahan. “We saw what voters wanted. They wanted to see a reduction in spending and that’s what we’re doing. The reductions we’re making for this revised, proposed budget were very difficult. Our decisions have been based on what will minimize impacts to the district’s academic program with no cuts to safety and security at this time. Our commitment and obligation remain on providing our students with a superior academic program which will prepare them for their college and career lives.”
The public vote for this revised budget will take place Tuesday, June 20 from 12 noon to 9 p.m. at the Intermediate School and Otisville Elementary polling locations.
It’s important to note the June 20 date is a statutory date set by New York State and cannot be changed. The voting times were set as they were because both the Intermediate School and Otisville Elementary are hosting their Fifth-Grade Moving Up Ceremonies in the morning. These events have been on the school calendar since the beginning of the school year. The Board of Education knows families have already made scheduling plans to attend these important gatherings.
If voters don’t approve this revised budget proposal, the Board of Education must adopt a contingent budget. The tax levy resulting from the contingent can be no greater than the tax levy of the previous year, that is, meaning, no tax levy increase.
The contingent budget would require an additional $841,473 in cuts.
By law, under a contingent budget, the district must charge community groups and organizations for the use of the district’s buildings and grounds and it must be reflective of actual costs.
Under a contingent budget, the Board of Education has discretion, in most cases, to determine what non-mandated programs and other services would be reduced or eliminated, including extracurricular programs and athletics.
A budget newsletter will be mailed to voters following the Tuesday, June 6 public hearing for the adopted revised, proposed budget. Detail information about the revised budget will be posted on the district’s website.