Board of Education adopts 2007-08 proposed budget

April 4, 2007 - The Duanesburg Board of Education adopted a $14,003,230 proposed budget for the 2007-08 school year during its community budget presentation and board meeting on Tuesday, April 3. If approved by voters, the estimated tax rate increase would be *3.98 percent [revised estimate per April 24 news release] for property owners in the Town of Duanesburg

The proposed spending plan represents an increase of $802,568 over the current year. Approximately 89 percent of the total budget is the result of operating costs that the school district must provide either by law or contract including employee salaries and benefits, BOCES and special education costs. A portion of the total budget also represents debt service for the district’s old and new capital projects.

Business Administrator Brenda Kane indicated that under Governor Spitzer’s Middle Class STAR Plan the tax rate increase would most likely be mitigated by the additional benefits provided to taxpayers in the lower and middle income brackets. The Enhanced STAR recipients would also receive additional benefits to offset any tax rate increase.

The proposed spending plan includes adding a part-time Spanish teacher and part-time social studies teacher to accommodate increased enrollment, purchasing needed instructional materials for the elementary school and middle/high school including music, social studies, math and science textbooks, test preparation workbooks and library books. Other new items proposed for the 2007-08 school year include adding a varsity golf team and an additional day of service for student testing by a school psychologist. The proposed budget also includes several technology enhancements including purchasing software to implement a district-wide e-mail system.

“The High School/Middle School class enrollments are at record high numbers. The part-time positions will allow us to better control class size,” said Superintendent Dr. Mark Villanti. “The proposed budget supports a quality, cost effective instructional program for our students.”

In addition to voting on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 15, from 1-9 p.m. at the Duanesburg Elementary School, voters will decide on a proposition to purchase four new buses to accommodate growth for a total cost of $234,621.

Voters will also elect two candidates to the Board of Education. The terms of trustees David Remling and Carlos Moreno expire on June 30, 2007. Nominating petitions for board candidates are now available and are due by April 16. Details on the board elections are available online or by calling the district clerk at 895-2279.

A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in the High School Multi-Purpose Room 124A.

> Back