Residents to vote May 17 on proposed 2022-23 school year budget, propositions, Board of Education seats

Fort Plain Central School District residents will vote on Tuesday, May 17, on a proposed $22,520,000 budget for the 2022-23 school year. The vote will be held from 1-9 p.m. in the Harry Hoag gym.

The proposed budget, which includes a $645,000 (2.95%) spending increase and a $83,029 (1.44%) tax levy increase, would preserve the district’s academic programming and services to meet student needs.

“The district’s goal is to propose a responsible  budget that supports high quality educational programs and services for our students. The proposed budget would achieve that goal,” said Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler.

Residents will also vote on propositions to:

• Purchase four school vehicles at a maximum cost of $468,000, with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase/Capital Reserve Fund. The purchase would allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs.
• Increase the maximum funding level of the existing Transportation and Capital Reserve Fund from $5,000,000 to an amount not to exceed $10,000,000.
• Establish a new Repair Reserve Fund in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, with a probable term of ten (10) years, for the purpose of financing the repair of various school district buildings, facilities, sites and equipment, to be funded from the district’s unappropriated fund balance and future budget surpluses.
• Undertake an energy performance/savings project to allow the district to maximize state building aid, at an estimated maximum cost of $5,000,000 that would be covered by long-term energy cost savings achieved by the implementation of energy conservation measures.

Voters will elect two members to the Board of Education for three-year terms running from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, for seats currently held by Mary Beth Hudyncia and Ronald Kardash, whose terms expire June 30, 2022. There is only one candidate, Kaitlyn Webb.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the District Clerk between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 17, 2022.

Detailed information is posted on the budget webpage.