2025-2026 School Budget Development Process
Budget presentations are made at each monthly Board of Education meeting starting in January, 2025. Monthly BOE budget presentations are posted as PDF documents in each month’s BOE meeting agenda on BoardDocs. BOE meetings can also be watched on-demand on the district’s YouTube channel (“DCS Eagles”).
Mark your calendar for the following important dates in the budget approval process:
Tuesday, May 6 – Board of Education meeting and Public Budget Hearing (6:30 p.m., Joe Bena Hall)
Thursday, May 15 – DCPTA’s “Meet the Candidates Night” (6:30 p.m., Joe Bena Hall)
Tuesday, May 20 – Budget Vote 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Duanesburg Elementary School)
DCS Budget Vote & BOE Election Tuesday, May 20 (1-9 p.m.)
Public Budget Hearing 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 6
Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 20, to consider a proposed $20,686,000 spending plan for the 2025-26 school year. Polls will be open from 1-9 p.m. at the Duanesburg Elementary School.
The community is invited to a public budget hearing at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6 in Joe Bena Hall, ahead of that evening’s Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m.
The proposed spending plan includes a 6.39% ($1,243,000) year-to-year increase and calls for a tax levy increase of 3.20% ($287,125), which is at the district’s tax levy limit or “cap.” The district will utilize $1,221,410 of fund balance and reserves to ensure that the cap is not exceeded.
State aid remains the largest source of revenue for the district. Most state aid comes in the form of Foundation Aid, which is expected to remain at a 2% increase ($106,835) and is a smaller increase than expected.
“Initial projections were revealing a 5-6% increase in most budget lines, with a considerable budget gap, but we’ve been able to narrow that gap through strategic line-by-line trimming, utilizing grant funding, and contributing fund balance,” Superintendent Kimberly Ross said.
“It is our responsibility to make sure we are the best stewards possible of the community’s tax dollars, a task that we take very seriously through purposeful long range planning, strategic spending to earn state aid back, and calculated methods of earning interest on our savings,” she added.
The proposed spending plan maintains all current programming for students, including extracurriculars, athletics, and field trips. It also accounts for the reduction of staff by one teaching position, a decision that Ross says was made based on an audit of current class sizes, and the changing instructional needs of students.
“DCS is thriving right now,” Ross said. “We continue to outperform the state in 3-8 math and ELA assessments, graduate nearly 100% of our students, and have furthered our elementary reading program with fidelity. This spending plan helps ensure that the district maintains its trajectory and keeps heading in a very positive direction.”
Also on the May 20 ballot, voters will elect two members to the district’s seven-member Board of Education. The three-year terms of current board members Sarah Gwiazdowski and Avis Sanchez will expire June 30. Newly elected members will start their tenure July 1, 2025. Three community members turned in petitions to run for the two open Board of Education seats. This is the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot:
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Sarah Gwiazdowski
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Michael Bailey
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Avis Sanchez
Learn more about these three candidates here. We also encourage the public to attend DCPTA’s “Meet the Candidates” night at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 in Joe Bena Hall at Duanesburg Jr.-Sr. High School.
Stay Informed: You can access monthly BOE budget presentations here.
May 6, 2025 (Budget Hearing)
Budget Presentation
April 23, 2025:
Budget Presentation
April 8, 2025:
Budget Presentation
March 18, 2025:
Budget Presentation
March 4, 2025:
Budget Presentation
February 11, 2025:
Budget Presentation
January 7, 2025:
Budget Presentation
2024-2025 School Taxes
School Tax bills were mailed the first week of September, 2024 and payment was due by October 4, 2024 to avoid a late fee penalty.
You can access your tax bill information online.
From September 3 – October 31, online bill payment was available here:
pay your tax bill online here
PLEASE NOTE – A 2% late fee will be added after October 4, 2024.
Taxes will be turned over to the county for collection after October 31, 2024.
DCS Tax Collector
Michelle Hundley
mhundley@duanesburg.org
Phone: (518) 895-2279, ext. 322
New York State School Tax Relief (STAR)
For questions regarding STAR Exemptions, contact the STAR Program directly at 518-457-2036.
School Budget 101: Understanding the Process
Each year, school boards must develop a balanced school budget proposal for the following school year and put it to a public vote on the third Tuesday in May. In New York, this requirement for a balanced, voter-approved annual budget is unique to public schools.
Check out this visual explanation, which may help you better understand some of the different factors that go into developing a balanced budget proposal.
This video is also an excellent source of information that provides a quick 60-second summary of the budget process: