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.
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
Budget Video Series
Full Budget Data
Monticello-Central-School-District-2022-2023-Budget-Data
What happens if voters reject the proposed 2022-23 school budget on May 17?
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.
Quick Links
Voter Registration/Absentee Ballots
Absentee Ballots
Applications for absentee ballots may be applied for beginning April 15, 2022, at the office of the School District Clerk in the Administration Building during school business hours Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.; in accordance with Education Law §2018-a, such applications may not be received by the School District Clerk earlier than April 18, 2022. Completed applications must be received by the School District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election (May 10, 2022) if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election (May 16, 2022), if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received in the office of the School District Clerk no later than 5:00 pm, prevailing time, on May 17, 2022.
3 ways to request an application:
Download the application
Call for an application:
(845) 794-7700 ext. 70523
Request by mail:
Monticello Central School District
School District Clerk
60 Jefferson Street, Suite 3
Monticello, NY 12701
Board of Education Election
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
Budget Development Calendar
November 18, 2021 – Present budget calendar to Board of Education
November 18, 2021 – Present Long Range Financial Plan to Board of Education
November 19, 2021 Distribute budget calendar to Administrators and schedule dates for individual budget meetings with Lisa, Linda and Tanya
December 9, 2021 BOE meeting – Board approves 2022-23 budget calendar for adoption with enrollment trends (2013- present)
December 9, 2021 BOE meeting – adopt budget calendar and long range financial plan
December 15, 2021 Principal’s meeting to discuss budget guidelines January 12, 2022 Staffing discussion at Principal’s meeting –( needs, reductions, shifts)
January 17-21, 2022 Individual budget meetings between Central Office and Plant Operations, Transportation, Security & Technology.
TBD Board of Education Budget Committee meeting
February 3, 2022 BoE Meeting – Topic: Preliminary Budget Forecast, Rollover budget, Assumptions & Tax Levy Limit
February 1-7, 2022 Individual budget meetings with Central Office and Building Principals & Athletics
February 9, 2022 Proposed staffing recommendations for 2021-22 completed
February 17, 2022 BoE Meeting – Topic: Plant Operations, Transportation, Security & Technology (Completed budgets due to Business Office by January 20, 2022)
February 14-18, 2022 Individual budget meetings with Central Office and PPS, Curriculum & Instruction, Special Programs and BOCES
March 1, 2022 Submission of Tax Cap Calculation Information and District’s Calculation of Tax Levy limit to OSC, NYSED, NYS Taxation and Finance
March 3, 2022 BoE Meeting – Topic: Building Principal budgets with enrollment projections and Athletics. (Completed budgets due to Business Office by February 17, 2022)
March 17, 2022 BoE Meeting – Topic: Curriculum/Staff Development, PPS, Special Programs, and BOCES
March 29, 2022 First legal notice of school budget hearing and budget, must advertise 4 times.
April 5, 2022 BoE Meeting – Instructional & Support Staffing, Benefits & District wide expenditures. Finalize budget proposal.(Complete budgets due to Business Office by March 17, 2022)
April 12, 2022 BoE Meeting & Budget Adoption by the Board of Education
April 18, 2022 Deadline for submission of voter initiated propositions to be placed on the ballot (45 days before the election)
April 18, 2022 Deadline for submission of petitions for BOE candidates to be placed on the ballot. (30 days prior to budget vote)
April 18, 2022 Inform candidates of legal requirement for all candidates for election to BOE to sworn statement of campaign expenses.
April 18, 2022 Prepare absentee ballot applications, absentee ballot, related envelopes, and directions.
April 22, 2022 Drawing by District Clerk for determination of order of candidates on ballot.
April 22, 2022 Property Tax Report card due to SED and to official newspaper (end of next business day after budget adoption)
April 22, 2022 FINAL legal date for budget adoption by Board of Education
April 28, 2022 3-part budget document with required attachments made available upon request and distributed in various locations (at least 7 days before Budget Hearing and not less than 14 days before the Annual Budget Vote).
May 5, 2022 Budget hearing, 7:30 p.m. RJK Middle School – 3 part budget document with required attachments available.
May 10, 2022 Voter Registration Day
May 11, 2022 6-day notice mailed to eligible voters
May 11, 2022 Sworn statement by candidates for election to BOE received by District Clerk.
May 16, 2022 District Clerk must maintain a list of names of those residents who were given absentee ballots.
May 17, 2022 Annual meeting and budget vote.
June 6, 2022 Sworn statement by candidates for election to BOE received by District Clerk.
Additional meeting dates with budget builders and the Board of Education may be added at a later date.
If budget is defeated:
May 30, 2022 Budget document – 3 part statement with required attachments made available upon request, at each school building, at district office, free library, and on district’s website at least 7 days before hearing and 14 days before the budget revote.
June 7, 2022 Publish legal notice for budget revote one each week in the 2 weeks before revote day, first publication 14 days before revote
June 7, 2022 Budget Hearing (7 – 14 days before budget revote day) 3 – part budget statement must be available at hearing.
June 15, 2022 Budget notice mailed to eligible voters
June 21, 2022 Statewide budget revote day
Budget Legal Notice
Budget Newsletter
The budget edition of the district’s print newsletter, The Panther Post, has been mailed to all district addresses. Residents can expect to begin receiving the newsletter May 10. A digital edition is also available.
Budget Presentations
January 6 – Budget Overview, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Evans
Feb. 3 – (Presented on Feb. 17, due to cancellation of Feb. 3 meeting)
Feb. 17 – Plant Ops, Transportation, Security and Technology
March 3 – Building Principals, Athletics and Performing Arts
March 17 – Curriculum/Staff Development/PPS/Summer/Special Services, BOCES Services
April 5 – Staffing, General Support/Undistributed Benefits and District-Wide Expenditures
April 12: 2022-23 Budget Proposal
May 5: 2022-23 Budget Hearing Presentation
Voting Locations
Thompson/Monticello – District #1
Robert J. Kaiser Middle School
45 Breakey Avenue, Monticello, NY 12701
Bethel – District #2
Duggan Community Center
3460 Route 55, White Lake, NY 12786
Mamakating – District #3
Emma C. Chase School
28 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wurtsboro, NY 12790
Rock Hill – District #4
Rock Hill Fire Department
61 Glen Wild Rd, Rock Hill, NY 12775
Forestburgh – District #5
Forestburgh Town Hall
332 King Rd, Forestburgh, NY 12777
If you have a question about where you should vote, call 845-794-7700, ext. 70523 or check here on Poll Finder.
Voter Registration/Absentee Ballots
For information about registering to vote for the 2022-23 school budget, please click here
For more information about voting in school elections, including how to register and how to request an absentee ballot, please visit the Voting in School Elections webpage.
Voter Registration Day
The district will hold a Voter Registration Day on May 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at all polling locations. This is also the last day to register to vote in the 2021-22 school budget election. However, registration is open and on-going. You do not need to wait until May 10 to register. For more information on eligibility and registration, visit the Voting in School Elections webpage.