A draft budget for the 2020-21 school year was discussed at the April 7, 2020 meeting of the DCS Board of Education. As of this meeting’s discussion, the draft $17,685,000, budget would include an increase of $320,000, or 1.84%, over the current year’s budget. The tax levy would increase by 1.90%, which is less than the maximum increase allowed by the state.
The draft budget would cover increased costs for contractual salaries, technology and BOCES needs, and transportation. The draft budget considers savings due to retirements and does not reflect any significant increases in benefits costs. (The draft budget does assume, however, that the cost of benefits will increase in future years.) The district is also considering a proposition to purchase three school buses.
The draft budget contains adjustments made to align budget lines with expenses since the March 24, 2020 presentation.
The Board discussed the draft budget at their March 10 and 24 and February 11 meetings; the April 7 draft budget presentation linked below reflects updates and the evolving discussion. The next budget discussion and adoption will take place at the May 5, 2020 Board of Education meeting, and a public budget hearing will be held May 19, 2020.