Michael Goot / Post-Star File Photo
Here is the exterior of the Salem Central School building. The district proposes a budget of $ 15.63 million.
SALEM – Residents of the Salem school district won’t see their property taxes increase for 2021-22 under the district’s proposed budget, although costs will rise 10.68% to $ 15,631,195.
Most of the increase, $ 1,287,094, is the result of the first payment due on the school’s capital project, principal David Glover said. Without the payment, the budget would have only increased 2.81%, or a little less than $ 397,000.
State aid, mostly for the construction project, will settle 80% of the debt, Glover said. This aid will continue over the 15 years of debt. The remainder of the capital project costs will be raised from district income.
The school board and administration kept the tax on duty by withdrawing $ 1,043,515 from the fund balance, an increase of $ 225,564 from $ 817,951 this year. Federal funding will help cover additional costs due to the pandemic and will be available for three years, Glover said. No staff or program cuts were made.
The school’s planned income for 2021-2022 includes 56% from state aid, 35% from tax levies and 9% from fund balances. The expenses are 72% for the program, 19% for the capital project and 9% for administration.
The construction project “comes under budget and on schedule,” said Glover. It includes work “from the basement to rebuilding the tallest chimney,” including a new playground, building extensions, renovations to the bathrooms and nurses suite, asbestos removal, new ventilation equipment in elementary school classes, as well as new heating, fire alarms, public address and telephone systems. Most of the work should be completed in the summer, leaving only the list and records for the fall, he said.
Voters are asked to approve an amount not to exceed $ 40,000 per year for five years to lease two new 65-passenger buses. Creation of a capital reserve fund, financed from funds remaining in the budget, not exceeding USD 1.5 million; add a Salem student to the Education Committee as a non-voting member; and increase the Bancroft Library tax levy by $ 584 to $ 29,775. The library is not part of the school, but the school levies taxes for its support.
The capital reserve fund will reduce the taxpayer impact of future capital projects, Glover said.
The incumbent members of the education committee, Heidi Kirchner and Jaclyn Nolan, run for three years without opposing candidates.
The school held a budget hearing on May 6th. For more information on budget, see the district newsletter, which is available on the school website and as a mailer to all district residents.
Residents will have another opportunity to ask questions about the budget between May 13th and 17th.
The vote will take place on May 18 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the high school.
Comments are closed.