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Taconic Hills budget passes
By John Mason
CRARYVILLE — By more than a two-to-one margin, Taconic Hills School District voters Tuesday approved a $32,984,733 budget with a 3.89 percent tax levy increase for the 2008-2009 school year. The total appropriations represent a .32 percent increase over 2008-2009, despite the fact that enrollment is predicted to drop by 30 students.
Of the total budget, 60.9 percent, or $20,071,819, is paid by local tax dollars.
Voters also approved three other propositions and filled two seats on the Board of Education. Retired history teacher Harvey Weber and local businessman Clifford Campbell were elected unopposed to the two open school board seats.
Most substantial of the three resolutions after the budget vote is Proposition 2, “Capital Project,” which also had the closest margin of the resolutions at 405 yes-votes to 356 against.
The measure authorizes the board to issue $15 million in bonds and notes, to be repaid out of the district’s $8 million reserve fund and state EXCEL grants, for capital projects including additions to or renovations of buildings, furnishings, equipment, machinery and apparatus. It will not affect taxes.
Up to 49 possible projects are being considered, including an energy-efficient boiler for the swimming pool, roof repairs and putting a new surface on the athletic field, a new emergency generator, solar panels to supplement the water heating system, outdoor toilets for the athletic field, an expansion of the fitness center and others.
Proposition 3, enjoyed nearly as healthy a margin of victory as the budget vote, winning by 525 votes to 247. The proposition authorizes the board to spend up to $200,000 out of the technology reserve fund for technological equipment. The fund represents the remainder of the $725,000 technology reserve fund established by voters in 2007. In 2008, $525,000 was spent on a range of upgrades.
The district plans to use the $200,000 on upgrading computer systems, interactive “smart boards,” instructional software, graphing calculators and science lab equipment.
Proposition 4 approved by 497 votes to 268, authorizes the board to spend up to $314,900 on school buses, and to issue the necessary bonds or notes to raise the money for the purchase. The loans will be repaid by taxpayers in three to five years.
Weber, an incumbent, won his second term. Newcomer Campbell will take the place of longtime board member and board Vice President Paul Robertson.
Campbell, the leading votegetter of the night, garnered 559 votes, or 73 percent of the 765 votes cast. Weber received 485 votes, or 63 percent. Former Superintendent David Paciencia was the top write-in candidate, with two voters penciling in his name.
Of the $32,984,733 appropriations in the budget, $24,184,629 will go to programs, $6,426,372 to capital projects and $2,3737,732 to administration.
The district cut administration by 12.18 percent, $329,306, and capital costs by 2.95 percent, or $195,025, while program costs rose by 2.68 percent, or $630,784.
Seventy-one percent of the budget, or $23,421,948, goes to salaries and benefits. Of that, $15,546,617, or 47.13 percent of the total budget, goes to current employees’ salaries; $6,400,250, or 19.4 percent to current employees’ benefits; and 4.47 percent, or $1,475,081 to retirees’ benefits.
The budget projects $12,912,914 in state aid, a $646,020 drop, or 4.76 percent, from 2008-2009.
Superintendent Mark Sposato thanked the community for its continued support of the school district. Board President Ron Morales said, “I’m very pleased: I think the public expressed the desire to have a great school and do what’s best for the community.”
To reach reporter John Mason, call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail jmason@registerstar.com.
Of the total budget, 60.9 percent, or $20,071,819, is paid by local tax dollars.
Voters also approved three other propositions and filled two seats on the Board of Education. Retired history teacher Harvey Weber and local businessman Clifford Campbell were elected unopposed to the two open school board seats.
Most substantial of the three resolutions after the budget vote is Proposition 2, “Capital Project,” which also had the closest margin of the resolutions at 405 yes-votes to 356 against.
The measure authorizes the board to issue $15 million in bonds and notes, to be repaid out of the district’s $8 million reserve fund and state EXCEL grants, for capital projects including additions to or renovations of buildings, furnishings, equipment, machinery and apparatus. It will not affect taxes.
Up to 49 possible projects are being considered, including an energy-efficient boiler for the swimming pool, roof repairs and putting a new surface on the athletic field, a new emergency generator, solar panels to supplement the water heating system, outdoor toilets for the athletic field, an expansion of the fitness center and others.
Proposition 3, enjoyed nearly as healthy a margin of victory as the budget vote, winning by 525 votes to 247. The proposition authorizes the board to spend up to $200,000 out of the technology reserve fund for technological equipment. The fund represents the remainder of the $725,000 technology reserve fund established by voters in 2007. In 2008, $525,000 was spent on a range of upgrades.
The district plans to use the $200,000 on upgrading computer systems, interactive “smart boards,” instructional software, graphing calculators and science lab equipment.
Proposition 4 approved by 497 votes to 268, authorizes the board to spend up to $314,900 on school buses, and to issue the necessary bonds or notes to raise the money for the purchase. The loans will be repaid by taxpayers in three to five years.
Weber, an incumbent, won his second term. Newcomer Campbell will take the place of longtime board member and board Vice President Paul Robertson.
Campbell, the leading votegetter of the night, garnered 559 votes, or 73 percent of the 765 votes cast. Weber received 485 votes, or 63 percent. Former Superintendent David Paciencia was the top write-in candidate, with two voters penciling in his name.
Of the $32,984,733 appropriations in the budget, $24,184,629 will go to programs, $6,426,372 to capital projects and $2,3737,732 to administration.
The district cut administration by 12.18 percent, $329,306, and capital costs by 2.95 percent, or $195,025, while program costs rose by 2.68 percent, or $630,784.
Seventy-one percent of the budget, or $23,421,948, goes to salaries and benefits. Of that, $15,546,617, or 47.13 percent of the total budget, goes to current employees’ salaries; $6,400,250, or 19.4 percent to current employees’ benefits; and 4.47 percent, or $1,475,081 to retirees’ benefits.
The budget projects $12,912,914 in state aid, a $646,020 drop, or 4.76 percent, from 2008-2009.
Superintendent Mark Sposato thanked the community for its continued support of the school district. Board President Ron Morales said, “I’m very pleased: I think the public expressed the desire to have a great school and do what’s best for the community.”
To reach reporter John Mason, call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail jmason@registerstar.com.
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