A printable version of the budget newsletter is available here.
On Tuesday, May 21, Middleburgh Central School District residents will be asked to consider a $24,900,000 budget for the 2024-25 school year that maintains all current programs and supports the mission to be a productive and responsible learning community, where all are inspired to achieve excellence. The vote will be held from 12-9 p.m. at the / Sr. High School Gym Lobby. All absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the district by 5 p.m. May 20.
This proposed budget increases spending by 2.42%, or $587,510 from the current year, and includes a tax levy increase of 1.50% or $153,836. Since the tax levy increase (the total amount of money to be raised through property taxes) is less than the district’s maximum allowable levy limit of 2.01%, the proposed budget needs a simple majority vote to be approved.
State Aid
New York State Foundation Aid is the primary source of funding for the district’s general fund budget. The decades-old “Save Harmless” policy connected to Foundation Aid guarantees that no district would receive less than they did in the prior year. Although Governor Kathy Hochul initially removed the ‘Save Harmless’ policy from the 2024-2025 state budget proposal, (a change that would have resulted in a 9% reduction in Foundation Aid for MCS), the Legislature rejected Hochul’s proposal, and Foundation Aid was restored.
The 2024-25 budget is based on the district’s current expectation that the same amount of Foundation Aid as was received in the 2023-2024 school year will be available in the upcoming school year.
Fund Balance Use
Middleburgh is using $921,815 of fund balance to balance the budget. The fund balance utilizes end-of-year surplus from the general fund.
A Message from the Superintendent
Middleburgh is a great place to live, work, and learn! We are proud to share that in the 2023-2024 school year, MCS maintained the highest rating possible in the New York State Education Department’s Accountability System – “In Good Standing,” and our high school was ranked as one of the Top 10 High Schools in the Capital Area by U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, our very own high school principal, Mr. Matthew Sloane, has been named the 2024 New York State Secondary Principal of the Year by the School Administrators’ Association of New York State.
MCS is a community partner supporting First Fridays, the Fall Festival, Miracle on Main Street, and countless other activities in the village and beyond. We are proud of our partnerships and the collective work we do to support our students, families, and community.
The 2024-25 proposed MCS budget reflects a 2.42% increase in expenditures with a 1.50% proposed tax levy increase. The proposed budget reflects support for our highly successful Middleburgh Advantage After-School Program that serves 80 elementary students daily, an emphasis on College in the High School Courses, and our continued commitment to field trips as a way for our students to explore “The World Beyond Middleburgh.”
This year, we will also ask residents to vote on the creation of a capital reserve fund for future transportation costs including the conversion to a zero-emission bus fleet by the New York State Legislature’s 2035 deadline. Our intent in creating this reserve is to minimize any future impact to taxpayers.
Because of our community, MCS is a vibrant school district. Please take the time to vote on May 21!
Propositions
When Middleburgh residents go to the polls on May 21 they will also vote on three propositions.
One proposition will be for the purchase of three, 65-passenger diesel buses not to exceed $488,000. New buses replace old buses based on the bus’s mileage, age, repair history, and condition and coincides with the district’s long-range bus replacement plan to keep the bus fleet in safe, working order. State aid would fund $371,360 (76.1%) of the total purchase cost.
The second proposition will ask voters to consider a 10-year Bus and Vehicle Reserve fund not to exceed $2 million. This reserve would allow the district to prepare for the purchase or acquisition of school buses and charging stations that meet the NY State legislature’s goal of having a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. By creating this reserve, the district would be able to offset future transportation costs and minimize any impact to the tax levy. Once created, the funds in the reserve can only be spent with additional voter approval.
In 2023, voters approved the creation of a Repair Reserve Fund to be used for facility or equipment repairs that do not recur annually or at shorter intervals. A repair reserve allows the district to fund unanticipated expenditures without reducing funding for programs or asking taxpayers for additional funds. On May 21, voters will consider allocating up to $200,000 from the 2023-2024 unappropriated fund balance to this reserve.
Budget Summary
New York state law requires school districts to present their budgets divided into three expenditure categories–program, administrative and capital–and compare them to previous year’s costs. Middleburgh’s three-part budget breaks down as follows:
Program:
2023-24: $17,990,347
2024-25: $18,489,168
74.25% of Proposed Budget
Includes salaries and benefits of all teachers and staff who deliver pupil services (guidance, health, library/media etc.), textbooks, equipment, co-curricular activities, athletics and transportation costs.
Administration:
2023-24: $2,347,524
2024-25: $2,216,513
8.90% of Proposed Budget
Includes the salaries and benefits of administrators, supervisors and administrative clerical staff, public information, printing, curriculum and staff development, school board costs, general insurance and professional fees.
Capital:
2023-24: $3,974,619
2024-25: $4,194,319
16.84% of Proposed Budget
Includes salaries and benefits of maintenance and custodial staff, debt service on buildings and school bus purchases, utilities, tax certiorari and court-ordered costs.
Additional information, including budget workshop presentations is available here.
School Board
Two seats are available for three-year terms expiring June 30, 2027. Candidates appearing on the ballot include Pamela Standhart and Becky S. Binder. Additional information about the candidates is available here.
Extended Learning and Community Partnerships
Learning never stops at Middleburgh. Throughout the year, students participate in 41 after-school clubs and athletics.
The Middleburg Advantage Program (a partnership with the Schoharie River Center) provides academic assistance, experiential learning, physical development, and creative arts opportunities while parents and guardians are at work.
Each summer, MCS provides additional student opportunities and partners with the Joshua Project and the Joint Youth Commission to host additional community services.
Voter Eligibility
By law, all voters must be U.S citizens, at least 18 years old and residents of the Middleburgh Central School District for at least 30 days prior to the vote. Voters must have a valid I.D.
Absentee and Early Ballots
You must complete an application to receive an absentee or early ballot.
Absentee and early ballot applications are available on the district website or by contacting District Clerk Kim Lawyer: 518-827-3625. If a voter requests to receive a ballot by mail, the application must be received by the district clerk by 5 p.m. on May 14. If the voter is going to pick up the ballot in person in the district office, it must be picked up by 5 p.m. on May 20. All ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on May 21.
Questions?
A list of frequently asked questions is on the district website or call District Clerk Kim Lawyer at 518-827-3625.
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