Residents to decide on school budget proposal for the 2013-2014 school year
Schuylerville residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
to vote on a proposed $32.06 million budget for the 2013-2014 school
year. Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. at Schuylerville
Elementary School. Community residents also will select Board of
Education members, consider two propositions and vote in the
Schuylerville Public Library board of trustees election.
After two years of spending decreases, Schuylerville’s budget proposal
calls for a spending increase of 3.52 percent. The projected tax levy
increase is 1.66 percent, which is below Schuylerville’s
state-determined tax levy cap of 3.62 percent.
[read more]
Corrected school budget notice
Please note that there is an error on the school budget notice printed in the district's budget newsletter that was mailed to residents. The contingency budget number is listed as $12,262,604; it should be $16,262,604. A corrected version in postcard format will be sent to residents. [View pdf of corrected budget notice]
Five candidates running for two Board of Education seats
Five candidates—Robert Thivierge, Denise Zdobnikow, William Corrigan, Louis Maggiore and Jon Beaulac—are running for two Board of Education seats; terms begin July 1, 2013 and run for five years. [read more]
Board of Education adopts $32 million budget proposal to present to voters
Schuylerville’s Board of Education has adopted a $32.06 million budget proposal for the 2013-2014 school year. The proposed spending plan will be presented to district voters on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. [read more]
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Understanding New York's property tax levy cap
In June 2011, New York State leaders responded to calls for property tax relief by enacting a law that placed new restrictions on how school districts (and municipalities) may increase their tax levies. Although often referred to as a “2 percent tax cap,” the law does not, in fact, restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent. It does, however, require at least 60 percent voter approval (supermajority) for a school budget if the proposed levy increase exceeds a certain amount.
That amount, called the “tax levy limit,” is calculated by each district according to a complex formula outlined in the law, and varies by district. In the 2012-13 budget cycle, only five out of the nearly 700 school districts in New York had an actual calculated levy limit (including exclusions) of 2 percent, while 575 school districts had a limit greater than 2 percent and 91 had a limit less than 2 percent. [read more]
School budgets 101: A detailed look at the challenges faced by New York Schools
School budgets in New York are particularly intricate, with multiple formulas to figure out school aid, tax levy caps and tax bills. If you'd like to delve into the details and learn more about some of the biggest challenges schools throughout New York State are facing, please take a few moments to read through [read more]
District facing budget gap between $642,000 and $1 million
Schuylerville is facing another year of extreme challenges as district officials work through the process of developing the 2013-2014 budget proposal to present to voters in May. Based on Governor Cuomo's proposed state budget and taking into consideration the projected increases in health insurance costs and state mandated contributions to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and Employee Retirement System (ERS), Schuylerville is looking at a budget gap between $642,000 and $1 million. [read more]
Projected revenues for the 2013-2014 school year
At the February 11, 2013 Board of Education meeting, Business Manager Wendy Morris presented information on the district's projected revenues for the 2013-2014 school year. Also at the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman discussed the district's projected budget gap and answered questions from the audience.
"With increasing costs in such areas as health insurance and retirement funds, the tax levy limits and decreases in total aid, the district is looking at a budget gap that's between $650,000 and $1 million. We're asking the principals and other administrators to go back through their building and departmental budgets to find costs savings above those they have already proposed," Sherman said. [view the powerpoint presentation]
Projected expenditures for the 2013-2014 school year
At the January 7, 2013 Board of Education meeting, Business Manager Wendy Morris presented information on the district's projected expenditures for the 2013-2014 school year. [view the powerpoint presentation]
Schuylerville district leaders and Board of Education advocating for change
Schuylerville Central School District—like school districts throughout New York—is facing a fiscal crisis. The downturn of the national economy, coupled with new mandates and the state's tax levy limit, has challenged public schools to continue to provide a high-quality education to all students with significantly fewer resources. As a result, districts are making devastating cuts to educational programs as they adjust to rising costs that are outpacing revenues. [read more]
General 2013-2014 Budget proposal timeline
Here are key upcoming dates to note regarding Schuylerville Central School District's proposed 2013-2014 budget:
January
7, 2013 - District business manager presents tentative
2013-2014 budget (expenditures).
February
11, 2013 - District business manager presents anticipated
2013-2014 revenues.
March
11, 2013 - Budget discussion; transportation supervisor presents
anticipated bus proposition information.
March
25, 2013 - Board approval of separate propositions to be
voted on. Board adopts proposed 2013-2014 budget.
April
22, 2013 - Deadline to submit petition for board candidates.
May
7-14, 2013 - Copies of proposed budget available for the public.
May
13, 2013 - District Budget Hearing. 6:30 p.m. Administration
Building.
May
21, 2013 - Budget vote and Board of Education Elections. Noon-9
p.m. Elementary School.
State-imposed pension contribution rates jump dramatically
Schuylerville and other school districts across the state are predicting another extremely difficult budget season due to a number of factors, including minimal increases to education aid, the tax levy cap and growing state deficits in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Adding to the economic woes are the state-imposed increases in contributions that school districts must make to employee pension funds. [read more]
Voter information
To vote in the district, you must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S.
citizen and a resident of the Schuylerville Central School District for
at least 30 days prior to the vote. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m.
on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the Schuylerville Elementary School.
Absentee ballots
Absentee ballots will be issued, upon request, to residents of
the school district who will be out of town or unable to vote in
person due to illness or disability. To vote using an absentee
ballot, district residents must first complete and sign an
absentee ballot application.
Click
here to download an application for an absentee ballot
[PDF file]. This form can be printed out and completed.
You
can also call the District Clerk Judi Dunkel at 695-3255, ext. 3242 to
have an application mailed to you.
Completed absentee ballots must be received by the district office at least seven business days before the election (May 10, 2013) if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election (May 15, 2012) if the ballot is to be given to the voter in person at the district office. Return completed absentee ballot applications to: District Clerk, Schuylerville Central School District, 14 Spring Street, Schuylerville, NY 12871. All completed absentee ballots must be delivered to the district office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.
The 2012-13 School Budget
The budget for the 2012-13 school year is $30.97 million, a spending
decrease for the second year in a row. The projected
tax levy increase was 2.74 percent.
Click
here to link to the district's 2012-13 budget newsletter or
here for a more detailed budget document.
[PDF files]
Saving on Taxes
If you are a homeowner in the district, be sure
to apply for tax savings under New York State’s STAR program. Last year,
property owners in the district who applied for STAR saved approximately
$741 on their school taxes—this is money taken right off the top of your
school tax bill. This year's estimated savings has not yet been
determined. Low-income senior citizens can save even more. Application deadlines are
in March of each year.
Income-eligible senior citizens (over 65 years of age) can apply for
additional tax savings thanks to the district’s tax exemption program.
Under this program, senior citizens with yearly incomes as high as
$37,399.99 can apply for tax reductions. The tax reductions are
determined according to a sliding scale. For example, seniors earning
$29,000 or less can have 50 percent of their assessed property value
exempt from taxation. The scale runs in 5 percent increments down to a
minimum 10 percent exemption. Property ownership, residency and
occupancy status are considered in addition to income. Application forms
for this program are available in your town assessor’s office. The forms
must be filed by March 1 and must be filed every year.
For more information on the STAR program or the senior citizen tax
exemption program, please contact your town assessor:
Easton
Town Assessor: James Rymph, (518) 692-8852
Fort
Edward Town Assessor: Roseann Lemry, (518) 747-7914
Greenwich
Town Assessor: Colleen Adamec, (518) 692-9381, ext. 104
Northumberland
Town Assessor: Walter Smead, (518) 792-9179, ext. 11
Saratoga
Town Assessor: Victoria L. Hayner, (518) 695-3644.
Stillwater
Town Assessor: Colleen Adamec, (518) 664-6148, ext. 204
Wilton
Town Assessor: Kathy Austin (518) 587-1939, ext. 202
