Budget

2021-22 Budget development timeline

• January- Early March: Board of Education and district discuss program, staffing, building needs for 2021-22 school year
• March 10: Public Hearing on Transportation, Building & Grounds budgets, followed by regular Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m., Harry Hoag cafeteria
• April 2: Legal notice of Annual School District Meeting sent for publication
• April 14: Public Hearing on Elementary and Secondary Programs budgets, followed by regular Board of Education meeting; Board adopts Proposed 2021-22 School Year Budget, 6 p.m., Harry Hoag cafeteria
• April 19: Petitions to seek Board of Education seats are due with the District Clerk. Terms for two seats on the board expire June 30, 2021.
• May 6: Budget notice & info mailed to district residents
• May 5: Public Hearing to present Budget, 7 p.m., followed by regular Board of Education meeting, Harry Hoag cafeteria
• May 18: Annual School District Meeting & Vote on Proposed Budget and Board of Education Candidates, 1-9 p.m., Harry Hoag gym

2021-22 Budget development news

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

Fort Plain Central School District residents approved a proposed $21.8 million budget for the 2021-22 school year by a vote of 126 to 15 on May 18, 2021.

They also approved a proposition by a vote of 125 to 16 authorizing the district to acquire school vehicles at a maximum cost of $275,000, with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund.

Voters also elected Kimberly Keane (126 votes) and Teresa Karker (121 votes) to serve on the Board of Education for three-year terms running from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024.

The approved 2021-22 budget maintains all academic programming with no increase in the tax levy. The approved school vehicle purchase proposition also will not have an impact on the tax levy, and it will allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs.

Board adopts proposed $21.8 million budget with no tax levy increase

The Fort Plain Board of Education adopted a proposed $21,875,000 budget for the 2021-22 school year at their April 14 meeting. The proposed budget would maintain all academic programming with no increase in the tax levy. District residents will vote on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 18, from 1-9 p.m. in the Harry Hoag gym.

The proposed 2021-22 budget is an increase of $500,000, or 2.34%, over the current-year budget, but does not raise the tax levy, as funds would be allocated from increased state aid to cover school faculty and staffing costs, as well as adding offerings such as summer and after-school enrichment.

When district residents vote on the proposed budget on May 18, they will also consider a referendum authorizing the district to acquire school vehicles at a maximum cost of $275,000, with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund. The purchase would not have an impact on the tax levy, and would allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs.

Voters will also elect two members of the Board of Education for three-year terms running from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024, to succeed Mary Beth Hudyncia and Kimberly Keane, whose terms expire on June 30, 2021. The candidates, in ballot order, are Kimberly Keane and Teresa Karker.

“Our goal is to always put forward a responsible budget that maintains high quality programming. This year, we can achieve this with zero impact on the tax levy,” Superintendent John Bishop said.

A public hearing on the proposed 2021-22 school district budget will be held in the Harry Hoag gym on Wednesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. Copies of the budget will be available for review from May 4 – 17 at the District Office. The full budget development timeline is posted above.

Applications for absentee ballots 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 not later than 5 p.m., on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

Full details may be found in the Legal Notice of Budget Hearing, Budget Vote and Election.

2021-22 (Proposed) School Year Budget Information

• Total Budget: $21,875,000
• Spending Increase: 2.34%
• Tax Levy Increase: 0.00%
• Use of Fund Balance: $500,000

Expenditures

• General Support – $2,439,374 / -2.31% = 11.15% of Budget
• Instruction – $11,053,888 / +2.85% = 50.53% of Budget
• Pupil Transportation – $1,228,753 / +2.28% = 5.62% of Budget
• Employee Benefits – $5,943,110 / +3.95% = 27.17% of Budget
• Debt Service & Related Transfers $1,209,875 / -0.14% = 5.53% of Budget
• TOTAL – $21,875,000 / +2.34%

Revenues

• State Aid – $14,985,440/ +1.46% = 68.50% of Budget
• Property Tax Levy (including STAR) =$5,765,920 / 0.00% = 26.36% of Budget
• Fund Balance – $500,000 / 0.00% = 2.29% of Budget
• Other – $623,640/ +83.69% = 2.85% of Budget
• TOTAL $21,875,000 / +2.34%

2020-21 (Current school year) Budget Information

• Total Budget: $21,375,000
• Spending Increase: 2.03%
• Tax Levy Increase: 1.81%
• Use of Fund Balance: $500,000

Expenditures

• General Support – $2,497,181 / 0.47%
• Instruction – $10,747,733 / 0.20%
• Pupil Transportation – $1,201,328 / -0.24%
• Employee Benefits – $5,717,183 / 5.02%
• Debt Service & Related Transfers $1,211,575 / 11.15%
• TOTAL – $21,375,000 / 2.03%

Revenues

• State Aid – $14,769,575 2.41%
• Property Tax Levy (including STAR) -$5,765,920 / 1.81%
• Fund Balance – $500,000 / -4.76%
• Other – $339,505 / 0.05%
• TOTAL $21,375,000 / 2.03%

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2019-20 Budget Information

Go to webpage

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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