2024-2025 School Budget Timeline
Budget presentations have been made at each monthly Board of Education meeting since January 9, 2024. Past presentations can be found 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, April 16, 2024 (6:30 p.m.): Monthly Board of Education meeting with budget presentation, followed by potential BOE voting on adoption of the 2024-2025 budget.
At the April 16 BOE meeting, the board unanimously approved a motion to table voting on the budget adoption until the next BOE meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24.
Tuesday, May 7 (6:30 p.m.) – Public Budget Hearing
Thursday, May 16 (7:00 p.m.) – “Meet the Candidates,” hosted by DCPTA in Joe Bena Auditorium
Tuesday, May 21 – Budget Vote 1:00 to 9:00 pm at Duanesburg Elementary School (165 Chadwick Road, Delanson, NY 12053)
2023-2024 School Taxes
School Tax bills were mailed the first week of September, 2023 and payment was due by October 6, 2023 to avoid a late fee penalty.
You can access your tax bill information online.
From September 6 – October 31, online bill payment was available here:
pay your tax bill online here
PLEASE NOTE – A 2% late fee was added after 10/06/2023.
Taxes were turned over to the county for collection after October 31, 2023.
DCS Tax Collector
Michelle Hundley
mhundley@duanesburg.org
Phone: (518) 895-2279, ext. 322
DCS Community Approves 2023-24 School Budget
Members of the Duanesburg community voted on Tuesday, May 16 to approve the district’s $18.985 million budget for the 2023-24 school year, as well as two other propositions that were on the ballot. The budget only required a simple majority vote for approval (more than 50%) since the tax levy was below the cap. Certified results are as follows:
School Budget passes: 745-349
Bus Purchase Proposition passes: 756-340
Capital Reserve Spending passes: 763-331
The $18.985 million budget maintains current programming, as well as all athletics and extracurricular offerings. The spending plan includes a 2.07% ($385,000) year-to-year spending increase and calls for a tax levy increase of 2.43%, or $207,444, which is under the district’s tax levy limit or “cap” of 3.91%.
The district is expected to receive a 3% increase ($155,585) in Foundation Aid from New York for the 2023-24 school year. In addition to tax levy and state aid, the spending plan also calls for using $100,000 from reserves (savings) and $947,173 from Fund Balance (monies left over from previous budgets) if necessary to bridge the gap between expected expenditures and revenues for the coming school year.
BUS PURCHASE: Also on the ballot, voters approved a proposition to purchase three school buses at a cost not to exceed $400,000. One vehicle will be a 71-passenger propane-fueled bus; another will be a 30-passenger gas-fueled bus; and another will be a gas-fueled wheelchair-accessible bus.
AUTHORIZE EXPENDING FUNDS: Voters also authorized the Board of Education to spend $6 million from the District’s Capital Reserve Fund towards the district’s Centennial Capital Project — a $28 million project that was approved by voters on December 8, 2022. Voters have already approved the overall expense of the capital project, but must also authorize the withdrawal of funds from reserves to pay for the project.
2023-24 Budget Development Process
Each year starting in January, district officials present a Budget Workshop session to Board of Education members at their regularly scheduled monthly business meeting. Links are provided below, to watch BOE meetings on-demand, and/or access the power point presentation from each session.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Watch On Demand
View PowerPoint Presentation
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Watch On Demand
View PowerPoint Presentation
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Watch On Demand
View PowerPoint Presentation
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Watch On Demand
View PowerPoint Presentation
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Community Budget Presentation; BOE Budget Adoption
Watch On Demand
View Presentation
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Public Budget Hearing
Watch On Demand
View Presentation
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
BUDGET VOTE
1:00-9:00 p.m. in the Jr.-Sr. HS Library/Media Center
Current School Budget (2022-23)
On May 17, 2022, Duanesburg voters approved the district’s proposed $18,600,000 budget for the 2022-23 school year by a vote of 547-361, a margin of 60%. The budget reflects a 4.0% ($715,000) increase in spending and a property tax levy increase of 1.8% ($150,945), which is under the district’s tax levy limit or “cap” of 2.62%. A simple majority (more than 50%) was required to pass the budget.
Voters also approved a proposition allowing the district to purchase two 65-passenger buses and one 30-passenger bus at a cost not to exceed $315,000. The referendum passed by a vote of 577-329. The purchase will allow the district to replace aging buses that have high maintenance needs and maintain a safe fleet of buses for pupil transportation.
2022-23 Budget Snapshot
Total Budget:
$18,600,000
Total Increase in Spending from 2021-22:
4.0% ($715,000)
Tax Levy Change from 2021-22:
1.8%
Tax Levy Limit (“Cap”):
2.62%
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: