At its April 12 meeting, the Monticello Central School District Board of Education adopted its proposed 2022-23 budget. The proposed budget preserves all existing positions and programs, restores pre-pandemic extracurricular experiences and activities, adds and enhances staff professional development opportunities, and addresses pandemic-related learning loss – without impacting the tax levy. Residents will vote from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17.
The proposed spending plan is an increase of $3,193,969 from last year’s budget, but the amount of the budget financed by taxpayers, or the tax levy, remains the same as the 2021-22 school year. The 2021-22 school year’s tax levy was a decrease of 2.06% from the 2020-21 tax levy.
Tax Levy Remains the Same
The proposed spending plan is an increase of $3,193,969 from last year’s budget, but the amount of the budget financed by taxpayers, or the tax levy, remains the same as the 2021-22 school year. The 2021-22 school year’s tax levy was a decrease of 2.06% from the 2020-21 tax levy.
Less than half of the proposed budget is funded by property taxes
In the 2015-16 school year, the tax levy funded 51.56% of the budget. This year, the tax levy funds 46.13% of it. The district was worked to progressively shrink the percentage of the budget funded by tax payers, while aggressively pursuing other sources of revenue, such as grants.
Increased expenses, increased aid
A portion of the budget increase can be attributed to an increase in costs for existing expenses. Like many sectors of our current economy, the cost of employee health benefits, BOCES programming, materials and supplies have all increased. At the same time, the district saw an increase in state aid, which will help mitigate these additional costs.
In addition to preserving all existing programs and positions, the budget also:
Restores/Enhances Student Experiences
- Increases funding for field trips
- Adds music supplies
- Funds early drop-off program
Addresses Learning Loss
- Adds credit recovery software
- Adds social studies and science Wonders curriculum
- Funds speakers and workshop facilitators for in-person professional development
- Adds librarian to the Emma C. Chase Elementary School
- Adds three teaching assistants at the George L. Cooke Elementary School
- Adds one district Local Area Network (LAN) Technician
Supports student social-emotional learning
- RULER professional development for teachers
- Increases PBIS at the Emma C. Chase Elementary School
What happens if voters reject the proposed 2022-23 school budget on May 18?
Under New York State Education law, if voters defeat their school district budget in May, a district has three options. It can resubmit the same proposal for a revote; submit a revised proposal for a revote; or adopt a contingent budget. If it resubmits a proposal and the proposal is rejected a second time, it must adopt a contingent budget.
Under a contingent budget, a school district cannot increase the amount of taxes levied during the previous school year. Since the tax levy of MCSD’s proposed 2022-23 budget has not increased from last year, a contingent budget would not further decrease the tax levy from the proposed levy.
According to state law, a contingent budget prevents the district from spending money on particular expenses, including community use of school facilities (unless all costs are reimbursed to the district); new equipment purchases, non-essential maintenance, capital expenditures (except in emergencies) and certain field trips and student supplies. Therefore, the district would need to remove $2,246,372 worth of equipment, replacement school buses, supplies and training if it adopted a contingent budget.
Voters will elect three members to the Board of Education
In addition to voting on the proposed budget, residents will also elect three members to the Board of Education. Seven candidates are vying for three open seats. Each seat is for a three-year term.
The candidates, in ballot order, are:
Seat 1:
- Lori Orestano-James (incumbent)
- Victoria LaRusso
Seat 2:
- Stacey Sharoff (incumbent)
- Ashley Rielly
Seat 3:
- Mary Beth Bastone
- Jennifer Holmes (incumbent)
- Jimmy B. Crawley
For more information on polling locations, registering to vote, absentee ballots or anything else related to the budget election, please visit our budget webpage.