Budget development is underway for the 2024-25 school year. On March 4, 2024, Superintendent Frank Macri and Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Jim Southard presented a draft plan to the VCSD Board of Education.
“We are focused on maintaining our schools’ exceptional performance by ensuring a return on investment at both the academic and facility levels,” said Macri.
Under the draft budget plan, the budget would maintain all current academic programs and funds for maintenance projects at all buildings.
Items under consideration in the draft 2024-25 budget include:
- Adding an additional part-time academic intervention services instructor with a concentration on math at the elementary school.
- Adding a security/hall monitor at the Jr./Sr. Campus.
- Testing a small pilot furniture replacement program to promote rather than restrain learning by offering flexible and collaborative options.
- Increasing BOCES Communications Services from 2 days a week to 3 to better serve the community’s needs.
Voters will also consider a proposition to purchase two 72-passenger diesel school buses. The district is working with consultants on a plan to meet the requirements of the zero-emission bus mandate that would require purchase of only zero-emission buses starting in 2027 and full changeover of the fleet by 2035 under current state law. More communication to the district’s stakeholders will be shared over the next year on this effort.
“As we have always said, we want to provide as many sustainable opportunities as we can for students while limiting the impact on taxpayers by levying only what is needed,” said Southard. “We want a fiscally sound budget where our revenues equal our expenses.”
The tax cap for this year’s budget will be 3.75%. The draft budget assumes $34,482,366 of expenses and $34,482,366 of revenue.This includes a one-time transfer of $3 Million that was authorized in the capital projects approved by voters in December 2022.
The next budget presentation will occur on April 9 of this year and the budget development process will continue until the board of education approves the budget. The school budget vote will be held on May 21, from 2:30 to 9 p.m. in the Middle School foyer. At that time, district residents will also vote on two open seats on the school board.
Additional information about the annual budget process, including budget presentations, voting and tax information, can be found on the Budget and Finance page.