$63.3 million school budget goes before voters

Rondout Valley school officials on May 16 will seek voter approval of a $63.39 million budget that would increase spending 2.7 percent or $1.67 million.

Voters will also select from among five candidates to fill three school board seats.

Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the district office on Kyserike Road.

The spending plan would provide for a $35.16 million property tax levy, a 1.35 percent decrease of $482,275. The amount is $1.44 million under the state levy limit and will require approval from a simple majority of voters.

Changes in the proposed budget include:

• Employee benefits of $16.93 million, for a 2.89 percent increase of $475,054.

• Instructional costs at $28.81 million, for a 0.98 percent increase of $288,114.

• Operations and maintenance at $3.88 million, for a 3.88 percent decrease of $156,644.

• Debt service at $3.54 million, for a 0.45 percent decrease of $16,025.

• Pupil transportation at $3.71 million, for a 0.26 percent increase of $9,622.

• Instructional supervision at $2.15 million, for a 3.82 percent increase of $79,310.

• Central services at $1.96 million, for a 2.7 percent increase of $51,469.

Staff changes under the budget propose to add a full-time elementary school teacher, a part-time math coach, a special education teacher for the middle school, a part-time teacher for the visually impaired, a high school reading specialist, liaisons for several departments, and a fulltime secretary at the high school.