Roscoe Central School District Board of Education approved a nearly $11 million budget proposal to go before voters on Tuesday, May 21.
At the same time voters, will also decide on a $1.7 million capital project and elect two members to the board of education.
The budget would maintain current programming as well as include funding to restore athletics and retain employees in grant-funded positions that will sunset at the end of the school year.
The $10,979,350 budget proposal carries a $6,028,058 tax levy. That is a levy increase of $338,527, or 5.95%, which is above the district’s calculated tax levy limit, or cap, of 3.55%, or $201,848. That means for the budget proposal to be approved, at least 60% of those who cast ballots must vote yes on the proposition.
“The district administration and Board of Education have worked diligently to put forth a budget proposal that maintains our programs as well as restores important programming to our students while keeping in mind the fiscal impact on our community,” Superintendent John Evans said. “Initially, the district was expecting an overall loss in state funding based on the Governor’s Executive budget proposal, however a tentative budget agreement has been reached that holds our projected state to the same amount of Foundation Aid received this current school year.”
Another factor impacting this budget is the sunsetting of the federally funded School Climate Transformation Grant, which funded several positions, and two teaching assistant positions that have been funded using COVID relief, funds which are no longer available.
“While our aid remaining flat is greatly appreciated, our financial position is still vulnerable therefore we are proposing to exceed the tax levy cap so we can maintain our student programs and services and rebuild our reserves to a level that improves our overall financial position,” Evans said.
The governor’s state budget proposal allocates $160,000 less to Roscoe in state aid, of which $101,000 was a reduction in Foundation Aid. Foundation Aid is one of the school district's main sources of funding to support the district's operating budget. While the tentative budget agreement maintains the “save harmless” provision, which guarantees that districts, at a minimum, receive the same amount of Foundation Aid that they received in the prior year, the governor has publicly indicated that revisions to the Foundation Aid formula should be expected to occur as soon as next year. Through this proposed budget, Roscoe will be able to retain funds to help secure its financial future and offset potential state aid cuts in the coming years.
Additional factors leading to the $691,303, or 6.72%, proposed budget increase are increased costs related to health insurance, transportation, retirement contributions, contractual agreements, and general inflationary factors.
If approved, the budget is estimated to add about $60 to the average tax bill of a property that has a $100,000 market value. If the proposal had been at the cap, that would have been about $36, and the district would have had to cut $136,679 in programs and services to balance the budget.
If voters reject the proposal on May 21, a revote would be held on June 18. If that budget is defeated, the district must adopt a contingent budget that holds the tax levy at the previous year’s levy and would require the district to cut an additional $201,848.
A public hearing on the budget proposal will be at 4:30 p.m Tuesday, May 7, in the high school cafeteria. The vote will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, in the new gym.
More information on the budget will be available on the district’s budget webpage, https://www.roscoe.k12.ny.us/page/budget.
More information on the capital project is available at https://www.roscoe.k12.ny.us/page/capital-project-2024.