Budget and Taxes – Duanesburg Central School District

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 our 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. The following calendar outlines the budget development process.

Late fall: Board of Education (BOE) reviews Budget Planning Calendar
December 10, 2019: BOE adopts calendar.
January 14 & 28, 2020: BOE meetings and budget discussion
February 11, 25 & March 10: BOE meetings & budget work sessions
March 24: BOE meeting & community budget presentation
Spring: Board of Education candidate petitions accepted
April & May: Legal notices placed in local newspapers
April 7: BOE adopts proposed budget, submits Property Tax Report Card to SED & local newspaper within 24 hours of adoption
April 20: Last day to submit BOE candidate petitions for terms beginning July 1, 2020 for: two 3-year terms for seats currently held by Camille Siano Enders and Jennifer Sexton, and one 1-year term for the seat currently filled by Henry “Dirk” Felton due to the resignation of Joshua Menzies
April 21: Drawing for BOE candidates ballot positions
April 22: Special BOE meeting in central office to vote on BOCES administrative budget, at time to be determined
May 5: BOE meeting and public budget hearing (presentation of adopted budget), adopted budget then made available to public
May: Absentee Ballot applications available, deadline set
May 12: Meet the BOE Candidates Night, sponsored by the PTA, 7 p.m., Joe Bena Auditorium
May: Budget notice and newsletter mailed to all district residents
May 19: Annual budget vote/BOE election, 1-9 p.m., elementary school lobby, followed by brief BOE meeting to announce vote/election results; approved budget will be posted on 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 2018-19 year
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.