Budget & Finance

June 4 Special Board Meeting: Board Reduces Budget to Meet Tax Cap Criteria. A public vote on the reduced budget will be held on June 18.

The Saugerties Board of Education has adopted a revised budget of $77,182,384, which is $569,061 less than the unsuccessful budget presented to voters in May. The reduced budget now meets the Tax Cap criteria for a simple majority voter approval of 50 percent plus one. Voters will weigh in on the new proposal on Tuesday, June 18 from 6 AM to 9 PM at the Saugerties Junior High School gymnasium. 

During the June 4 special meeting, the Board of Education also decided to hold the revised budget vote at a single polling location: the Junior High School, located at 310 Washington Ave., Saugerties. Polls will be open in the gymnasium, located in the back of the building. Signs will be posted to direct voters.  Learn more about the reasons for the change here. 

BUDGET REDUCTIONS TO MEET THE TAX CAP LEVEL
After much discussion and deliberation, the Board adopted a proposed budget that includes the reductions listed below, which are shown as Full Time Equivalents (FTEs).

“As a graduate of Saugerties High School, and a parent of children who attend the District, I can promise you that this is not something I wanted or anticipated in my first budget proposed to the community,” said Superintendent Daniel Erceg, Ed.D., emphasizing that all reductions were considered through the lens of student impact. “We did our best to align reductions to the priority areas that were identified through community input during our strategic planning process, always looking to find where the least possible impact would be to students. These reductions impact my very own kids.”

NEW REDUCTIONS INCLUDED IN JUNE 18 PROPOSAL

• Assistant Principal at the High School (1 FTE)
• A position in the Business Office (1 FTE)
• Athletic Trainer (1 FTE)
• Three additional non-mandated Teaching Assistants (3 FTE)
• Reduces a Counselor position to part-time (0.4 FTE)
• Non-essential technology purchases
• District-sponsored field trips
• Modified Sports
• Armed Security at Mount Marion, which will have a new security vestibule in place next school year

A new request for proposal would also be executed to seek a Pre-K provider that does not require funding beyond the grant levels available. 

ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE MAY 21 PROPOSAL

• Part-time Counselor/Part-time Spanish Certified Teacher (1 FTE)
• Part-time French Certified Teacher (0.4 FTE)
• Library Media Specialist (1 FTE)
• Science Certified Teacher (1 FTE)
• Math Certified Teacher (1 FTE)
• English Language Arts Certified Teacher (1 FTE)
• Typists (2 FTE)
• Stipends for Lead Teachers for Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science, Technology
• Full-time Nurse position moving to part-time
• Instructional Coaches (3 FTE)
• Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Teacher (1 FTE)
• Reduction of Elementary After School Busing from M-Th to T-W
• Part-time Teaching Assistants (5 FTE=10 Individuals)

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BUDGET DOES NOT PASS? If the revised budget is not approved, the District must adopt a contingency budget, which would result in cutting an additional $1,957,018, eliminating many non-mandated opportunities for students, which could include Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, athletics, art, clubs, mental health supports, and all armed security. By law, all non-emergency capital updates, non-essential equipment purchases, and free public use of our buildings would also be eliminated.

TAXPAYER COST OF THE REVISED BUDGET

The proposed budget reflects a tax levy increase of 3.62%, which is at the allowable level calculated under the New York State Tax Cap formula for a simple majority voter approval. Many factors affect the specific impact the tax levy would have on an individual’s tax bill, such as assessed value, equalization rates, and any STAR or local Firefighter Exemptions the taxpayer may receive. The following estimates reflect the anticipated cost for a taxpayer without the STAR Exemption on homes with various assessed values.

Revised Budget Vote Information for June 18 Vote

• BOE Budget Hearing Presentation (June 11, 2024)
• Community Mailer on the Revised Budget Vote (June 10, 2024)
• BOE Revised Budget Options for Consideration PRESENTATION (June 4, 2024)
• June 4 Board of Education Meeting Recording
• Revised Budget Statement for June 18 Budget Vote

2024/25 BOE Budget Meeting PRESENTATIONS FOR MAY 21 VOTE

• BOE Budget Hearing Presentation (May 14, 2024)
• BOE Approved Budget Presentation  (April 23, 2024)
  • BOE Budget Adoption Recording (April 23, 2024) 
• April 23, 2024 Presentation
  • BOE Budget Overview Recording (April 16, 2024)  

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