Schalmont Central School District residents can vote on a $41,550,000 budget for the 2008-09 school year on Tuesday, May 20, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the foyer of the Schalmont High School New Gym, 1 Sabre Dr. (pictured at right). 

Voters also will decide on a bus purchase proposition and pick candidates to fill two seats on the school board.

BALANCING THE BUDGET

The proposed 2008-09 school budget is a $1,456,248, or 3.63 percent, increase in spending over the 2007-08 school budget. The district will continue several cost-saving measures and cut some positions due to declining enrollment, but most expenditure areas are expected to increase next year. The areas most significantly contributing to the spending increase include teacher salaries, health insurance and transportation. For more details on the expenditure areas, look to the budget newsletter, which will be mailed to district residents in early May, or click here for a brief budget Q&A.

Schalmont looks to all other revenue sources before it looks to local taxpayers to cover the cost of education. After factoring in other revenue, such as state aid, the proposal balances the budget with a 2.99 percent increase in the school tax levy (i.e., total amount of money the district collects from local taxpayers). This is the lowest percentage increase in the last five years.

“Our goal has always been to be fiscally responsible without losing sight of what students need to succeed in today’s world,” said Michael DellaVilla, president of the Schalmont Board of Education.

The school board adopted the Homestead Tax Option last year in response to the Town of Rotterdam property reassessment. District officials will not set school tax rates (i.e., amount of tax residents pay per $1,000 of home value) for homestead and non-homestead properties until August 2008. In the meantime, the school board has approved all possible school tax exemptions, and many taxpayers may be eligible for a STAR exemption.

CREATING THE BUDGET

Board members and administrators began planning the 2008-09 budget in the fall of 2007 and sought feedback from community members before adopting the current proposal in April.

DellaVilla said, “Our community places a high value on their children’s education, but they’re feeling the pinch everywhere – gas, food, even paper. We kept their concerns in mind and looked for ways to provide a great education and still cut costs.”

The proposed budget focuses on: maintaining and expanding existing instructional programs, taking cost-saving measures and making cuts where appropriate, increasing fiscal responsibility, maintaining and updating facilities, and continuing to improve school security.

UNDERSTANDING THE BUDGET

The 2008-09 school budget proposal will be further discussed during the official budget hearing on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. in the Schalmont Middle School LGI Room, 2 Sabre Dr. Residents unable to attend the budget hearing are invited to share their thoughts on the budget by e-mailing superintendent@sabrenet.net.

Budget information is posted on this website and will be presented in greater detail in a special issue of the district newsletter. Residents should receive the budget newsletter in the second or third week of May.