Decision day nears for school budgets
Proposed school district budgets for 2018-19 go to voters Tuesday in Ulster County and Northern Dutchess.
Here’s an overview.
ULSTER COUNTY Kingston
The budget proposal totals just over $175 million and is 3.2 percent larger than the district’s 2017-18 spending plan.
The property tax levy would be $104.1 million, up 2.6 percent from this year and $991,084 lower than the cap for the district set by state.
Also on the ballot will be propositions to:
• Create a new capital reserve fund that would hold proceeds from the sale of the Cioni Building.
• Allow the district to spend up to $16 million on capital projects for John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Harry L. Edson Elemen-
tary School and M. Clifford Miller Middle School. The money would come from a combination of existing reserve funds and state aid.
• Authorize negotiations with city of Kingston officials to give up the district’s 50 percent ownership of Dietz Stadium.
Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the district’s elementary schools.
Ellenville
The spending plan totals about $51.9 million and is about 4 percent bigger than this year’s budget
The property tax levy would be $24 million, which is up 1.65 from 201718
and equal to the stateset limit.
Voting will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the high school, 28 Maple Ave.
Highland
The proposed $45.3 million budget is 5.63 percent larger than the 2017-18 spending plan.
The property tax levy would be $28 million, which is 4.45 percent larger than this year’s and equal to the state’s cap for the district.
Voters also will be asked to approve an $8 million proposition to pay for safety upgrades at the district’s three schools.
Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school, 320 Pancake Hollow Road.
New Paltz
The proposed budget totals $61.3 million, which is 3.9 percent larger than the current spending plan.
The property tax levy would be $42.4 million, up 3.21 percent from this year and equals to the state cap.
Voters also will be asked to weigh in on a proposal to spend a total of $480,000 for three 30-passenger school buses and three 65-passenger school buses.
Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school on South Putt Corners Road.
Onteora
The budget proposal totals $55.9 million and is 2.36 percent increase larger than this year’s spending plan.
The proposed property tax levy is $42.6 million, which is 2.98 percent larger than the current levy and $268,754 below the state’s cap for the district.
Also on the ballot will be a proposition on spending a total of $175,000 to buy a 65-passenger school bus and a 28-passenger school bus.
Voting will be from 2 to 9 p.m. in the district’s three elementary schools and the West Hurley fire station.
Rondout Valley
The proposed budget totals $64.3 million and is about 1.5 percent larger than this year’s spending plan.
The property tax levy would be $35.8 million, which is 1.8 percent larger than this year’s and
$206,344 under the stateset limit.
Voters are also will be asked for permission to donate a small piece of unused land at School Hill Road and Fourth Street in High Falls to the town of Marbletown.
Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the district office, next to the high school, on Kyserike Road.
Saugerties
The proposed budget totals $62.4 million, and increase of 2.5 percent from 2017-18.
The property tax levy would be $38.7 million, up 2.53 percent and equal to the state cap.
Voting will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the district’s four elementary schools.
N. DUTCHESS Red Hook
The proposed $54.1 million budget is 2.1 percent larger than this year’s.
The property tax levy would be $33.6 million, up 2.17 percent and $83 under the state-set cap for the district.
Voting will be from noon to 9 p.m. at Mill Road Elementary School.
Rhinebeck
The proposed budget totals $33.9 million and is 2.4 percent larger than the 2017-18 spending plan.
The property tax levy would be $28.8 million, up 3.23 percent and equal to the state limit.
Voting will be from 2 to 9 p.m. in the high school on North Park Road.