Tonight, June 20, Minisink Valley School District residents approved the revised $113,183,308 school budget for the 2023-24 school year in a 1,459 to 818 vote.

The results showed 64.08% of voters approved the budget.

The approved budget includes $1,071,000 in cuts from the initial proposed budget rejected by voters on May 16.

This budget increases spending by $7,359,923 from the current year, and includes a 1.65% levy increase.

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 needed a simple majority to be approved.

“We’re grateful to our community for supporting our critically important work in the last weeks to finalize budget reductions which minimally impact our academic program and maintain our important levels of safety and security,” said Superintendent Brian Monahan. “The prudent use of taxpayer dollars remains a top priority for us and we’ve always been mindful of this essential obligation to our taxpayers. Thank you for your continued trust in our work and for your partnership in the education of our community’s children.”

The $1,071,000 in budget cuts include elimination of the 5 p.m. late bus runs along with related reductions in Transportation hours; and no Summer School, which also includes not hiring approximately 50 people.

Other reductions include Bus Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) principal and interest payments and reductions in the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Department due to out-of-district students leaving Minisink Valley.