Community will vote on proposed $18.60 million budget Tuesday, May 17
Duanesburg Central School District’s Board of Education adopted the district’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year by unanimous vote at the board’s regular meeting held Tuesday, April 12. The proposed $18.60 million budget maintains current programming, as well as all athletics and extracurricular offerings, with a tax levy of 1.80% ($150,945), which is under the tax levy limit or “cap” of 2.62%.
Community members will vote on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 17. Polls will be open from 1-9 p.m. in the Elementary School lobby. The budget will only require a simple majority vote for approval (more than 50%) since the tax levy is below the cap.
“We are pleased that we have been able to manage increased inflation without having to pass that burden on to our tax payers this year by once again keeping the tax levy under the cap,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jim Niedermeier said. “Raising taxes by small increments each year is a strategy that has proven to benefit our tax payers and contribute to the long term financial health and stability of the district.”
For the 2022-23 budget, DCS saw a 3% increase in Foundation Aid, as well as a slight increase in transportation and BOCES aid. The district will use $100,000 from reserves (savings) and $925,826 from Fund Balance (monies left over from the previous year’s budget) to bridge the gap between expected expenditures and revenues for the 2022-23 school year.
Also on the ballot, voters will decide on a proposition to purchase two 65-passenger school buses and one 30-passenger bus at a cost not to exceed $315,000.
Voters will also elect two candidates to serve on the board of education for three-year terms. You can learn more about the candidates who are running at the PTA’s Meet the Candidates Night at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 12 in Joe Bena Hall at the Duanesburg Junior Senior High School.
Applications for absentee ballots are available by request for residents who are unable to come to the polls if they are out of town or because of health concerns. Applications are available on the district website at or by contacting the district clerk, Celeste Junge, at (518) 895-2279 ext. 241. Applications must be received by the district clerk no later than May 10 if your ballot is to be mailed to you. If you plan to pick up your ballot, your application must be received by May 16. Completed ballots must be received by the district by mail or drop-off no later than 5 p.m. on May 17.
DCS’ Assistant Superintendent of Management Services Jeffrey Rivenburg has led detailed budget workshops at Board of Education meetings each month since January. Replays of the meetings can be found on the district’s YouTube page and the monthly budget presentation documents are archived on the “Budget and Taxes” page of the district website.