Budget

District residents approve proposed budget and propositions, elect 2 to Board of Education

Fort Plain Central School District residents approved a proposed $22,520,000 budget for the 2022-23 school year by a vote of 109 to 30 on May 17, 2022.

They also approved propositions to:

• Purchase four school vehicles at a maximum cost of $468,000, with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase/Capital Reserve Fund. The purchase would allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs. – Approved by a vote of 111 to 28
• Increase the maximum funding level of the existing Transportation and Capital Reserve Fund from $5,000,000 to an amount not to exceed $10,000,000. – Approved by a vote of 93 to 46
• Establish a new Repair Reserve Fund in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, with a probable term of ten (10) years, for the purpose of financing the repair of various school district buildings, facilities, sites and equipment, to be funded from the district’s unappropriated fund balance and future budget surpluses. – Approved by a vote of 114 to 23
• Undertake an energy performance/savings project to allow the district to maximize state building aid, at an estimated maximum cost of $5,000,000 that would be covered by long-term energy cost savings achieved by the implementation of energy conservation measures.- Approved by a vote of 118 to 21

Voters also elected Kaitlyn Webb (93 votes) and Benjamin Trumbull (30 write-in votes) to the Board of Education for three-year terms running from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.

The 2022-23 budget preserves the district’s academic programming and services to meet student needs. It includes a 2.95% spending increase and a 1.44% tax levy increase.

“The district’s goal was to propose a responsible budget that supports high quality educational programs and services for our students,” said Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler.

2022-23 school year budget development timeline

• January-March 2022: District administration and the Board of Education work to develop a budget for the 2022-23 school year
• March 16, 2022: Public Hearing on Transportation, Building and Grounds Budgets, held before the Regular Board of Education meeting
• April 13, 2022: Public Hearing on Elementary and Secondary Programs Budgets, held before the Regular Board of Education meeting; Board adopts a Proposed Budget for the 2022-23 school year
• April 18, 2022: Petitions to seek Board of Education seats are due with the District Clerk. Terms for two seats on the board expire June 30, 2022
• May 4, 2022: Public Hearing to present Proposed Budget, held before the Regular Board of Education meeting
• Early May, 2022: Proposed Budget information mailed to district residents
• May 17, 2022: Budget and Board of Education Candidate Vote, Harry Hoag Gym, 1 p.m.-9 p.m.

2021-22 Budget Information

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2020-21 Budget Information

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2019-20 Budget Information

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School Taxes

School property tax rates are set in August for the upcoming school year. Tax rates are based on the total tax levy in the voter-approved school budget, the state-determined equalization rates, and assessment rolls for each town.

School property taxes are due Oct. 31 each year. Payments that are mailed must be postmarked no later than Oct. 31.

View your tax bill | STAR exemptions website

Budget Voter Requirements

• U.S. citizen
• School district resident for at least 30 days
• 18 years of age

District NYS Report Card

Voting by absentee ballot

Absentee ballot applications may be obtained from the District Clerk from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Completed applications are due with the District Clerk at least seven days before the vote and election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the vote and election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the vote.