Superintendent Susan Swartz presented a preliminary proposed 2023-24 budget to the Board of Education. The total carry-forward budget is $63,198,425, an increase of $2,923,476, or 4.85%. This figure reflects what it will cost to maintain current programs and services in the 2023-24 school year. Items that may impact this number include contractual costs, salaries, benefits, BOCES expenditures, utilities and fuel costs.

The draft budget maintains CARES Act 2-funded health and safety programs that were added this year, including cyber security upgrades, an athletic trainer and a School Resource Officer (SRO).

The preliminary proposed budget carries a tax levy increase of 4.08%, which is below the district’s allowable limit as calculated by the state’s eight-step formula. The estimated tax levy increase would cost a homeowner of a $160,000 home an additional $156 per year, or about $13 per month.

The district will continue to refine the proposed spending plan in the coming weeks.