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.

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. Specific dates for the 2019-20 school year will be posted once they are approved by the board. The following is a general calendar of the budget development process.

Late fall: Board of Education reviews Budget Planning Calendar
December/winter: Board adopts calendar, begins discussion of budget and parameter
January: Board continues budget discussion and development
February – March: BOE Meeting Budget Work Sessions
Late March: BOE Meeting Community Budget Presentation
April & May: Legal notices placed in local newspapers
April: Board of Education adopts proposed budget, submits Property Tax Report Card to SED & local newspaper
April: Special Board of Education Meeting to vote on BOCES Admin. Budget
Spring: Board of Education candidate petitions accepted
April: Drawing for Board of Education Candidate Ballot positions
May: Absentee Ballot applications available, deadline set
May: Meet the Candidates Night at 7 p.m., Joe Bena Auditorium, sponsored by PTA
May: Budget notice and newsletter mailed to all district residents
May: Annual Budget Vote/BOE Election; approved budget posted to website

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.

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 2019 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.