Duanesburg Central School District > Budget and Taxes

Budget and Taxes

The school budget

Today’s students are growing up in a global, complex and competitive society that demands much more than a basic education. It is the duty and mission of DCS to provide students with a depth and breadth of educational programs and services that equip them with the skills and knowledge to be college and career-ready. The district also seeks to balance the needs of the community we serve while addressing rising costs.
While budget planning takes on heightened focus from late winter until voting day in May, developing a school budget that both meets student needs and reflects community input is a year-long process. The district encourages the public to be a part of that process and help prepare students for the future.

2019-20 budget news

Voters approve budget, propositions, elect 3 to Board of Education

Duanesburg Central School District residents approved the proposed $17,365,000 budget for the 2019-20 school year on May 21 by a vote of 292 to 82, which is a 78 percent approval.
Bus proposition approved
Voters also approved a proposition to purchase three gasoline-fueled school buses, a 65-passenger bus, a 71-passenger bus and a 21-passenger wheelchair-compatible bus, at a cost not to exceed $290,000, by a vote of 299 to 75, which is a 79.9 percent approval.
Three elected to Board of Education
Deborah Grier was re-elected to the Board of Education and Dianne Grant was elected to her first term on the Board; both will serve three-year terms beginning July 1, 2019. 
Henrietta (Hank) Dunn was elected to the Board and will serve until June 30, 2021, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Board Member Joshua Menzies.
Budget details
The $17,365,000  budget for the 2019-20 school year increases spending by $215,000 (1.25%) over the current year’s budget and includes a 0.0 percent (no) increase the tax levy. With no increase, the tax levy change is below the district’s maximum allowable levy increase (“cap”) of 0.44 percent, and so the proposed budget required a simple majority (50 percent plus one vote) for approval.
What the budget will fund
The largest portion of the proposed budget, more than 74 percent, will fund educational programs and services. The largest share of the budget increase for 2019-20 will cover instructional costs, including salaries and benefits, as well as programs, including the addition of Advanced Placement courses in biology and capstone seminar/English at the high school, and a teacher aide at the elementary school.
Costs are also expected to rise for energy and facility maintenance and improvements, and the proposed 2019-20 budget will cover replacement of a 15-year-old work-truck/salter/plow.

Resources 
Budget Presentation to Board May 7, 2019

Duanesburg Central School District Proposed 2019-20 Budget Documents
These documents include approved 2018-19 revenue and appropriations budgets and proposed 2019-20 revenue and appropriations budgets, property tax report card, school academic report card link (https://data.nysed.gov), audit reports, salary disclosure, and exemption reports.  

2019-20 school year budget development calendar

Members of the community are encouraged to attend Board of Education Meetings and Budget Work Sessions, which begin at 6:30 p.m. in Joe Bena Auditorium. The Board will tentatively adopt the budget on April 9. The input of all district residents is appreciated throughout the budget development process.

  • Tuesday, Nov. 13: Board of Education Meeting – (Review Budget Planning Calendar for adoption on Dec. 11)
  • Tuesday, Dec. 11: Board of Education Meeting – Adopt Budget Planning Calendar, Budget discussion & establish parameters
  • Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019: Board of Education Meeting
  • Tuesday, Jan. 22: Board of Education Meeting
  • Tuesday, Feb. 12: BOE Meeting/Budget Work Session
  • Tuesday, Feb. 26: BOE Meeting/Budget Work Session
  • Friday, March 1: Submit Tax Levy Limit to the Office of State Comptroller
  • Tuesday, March 12: BOE Meeting & Budget Work Session
  • Tuesday, March 26: BOE Meeting & Community Budget Presentation
  • Friday, April 5: Gazette Legal Notice #1 of 4 at least 45-49 days before meeting, to be published 4 times
  • Tuesday, April 9: Board of Education Meeting – Adopt Budget
  • Wednesday, April 10: Submit Property Tax Report Card to SED & local newspaper (within 24 hours of adoption)
  • Wednesday, April 17: Special Board of Education Meeting to vote on BOCES Admin. Budget – time to be determined/Central Office
  • Monday, April 22: Last day to submit Board of Education Petitions. Two 3-year term seats are open; the terms of Kent Sanders and Deborah Grier expire on June 30. Petitions are due by 5 p.m. at the Central Office.
  • Tuesday, April 23: Drawing for Board of Education Candidate Ballot position, NYS Education Law 2032 2b, day after petitions are due
  • Wednesday, April 24: Gazette Legal Notice #2 of 4
  • Wednesday, May 1: Absentee Ballot applications available at Central Office, also available online: Absentee ballot application
  • Tuesday, May 7: Public Budget Hearing (Presentation of Adopted Budget) followed by Board of Ed. Meeting
  • Wednesday, May 8: Adopted budget available and posted to website
  • Wednesday, May 8: Gazette Legal Notice #3 of 4
  • Thursday, May 9: Meet the Candidates Night at 7 p.m., Joe Bena Auditorium, sponsored by PTA
  • Friday, May 10: Mail Budget Notice (Budget Newsletter)
  • Monday, May 20: Gazette Legal Notice #4 of 4
  • Tuesday, May 21: Annual Budget Vote/BOE Election – 1-9 p.m., Elementary School lobby, followed by a brief BOE Meeting to announce budget and BOE election results
  • Wednesday, May 22: Approved budget posted to website
    [Calendar Adopted by BOE 12/11/18]

The current school year (2018-19) budget

On May 15, 2018, Duanesburg Central School District residents approved a $17,150,000 budget for the 2018-19 school year by a vote of 318 to 174, a 64.6 percentage of approval. The budget includes a 0.90% tax levy increase, below DCS’s 0.91% tax levy limit, and is a $832,500 (5.1%) increase over the 2017-18 school-year budget.
DCS voters also approved, by a vote of 333 to 160, a proposition authorizing the purchase of three passenger school buses at a maximum estimated cost not to exceed $270,000. They also approved a proposition, by a vote of 329 to 162, authorizing the district to establish a capital reserve fund for the purpose of financing the construction of general improvements, reconstruction, renovations, or additions to the district’s buildings.
DCS residents voted for Shayne Mitchell, Joshua Menzies and Teresa Wood-Irvin to fill three vacancies on the Board of Education for three-year terms that began on July 1.

2018-19 Budget documents
These documents include budget appropriations, status report and the reserve fund report (audit report).
2018-19 Budget Presentation
This is a presentation overview of the budget that was adopted by the Board of Education at their April 17, 2018 meeting.

For more budget information and resources, visit the budget resources webpage. 

For assistance accessing any of the documents on this website, contact the DCS central office at (518) 895-2279.

Audit Report

An annual audit of district financials is conducted each fall of the prior year’s expenditures and financial condition.
Duanesburg Financials 2018 Audit Report

Reserve Fund Report

The reserve fund report is an annual document showing the status of reserve funds that are established by the district.
Reserve Fund Report 2017-18 year

School Taxes

School tax rates are  a function of the tax levy, property assessments and each town’s equalization rate — a percentage level set by New York state that compares property assessment in towns to real estate market value.

For more information about school taxes, including how to pay your bill and information about tax rates, visit the school taxes webpage.