Tag: budget vote
2025-26 school budget development
The school budget is the biggest investment the community collectively makes with its tax dollars. District leaders work to make the most thoughtful and effective use of resources to benefit students, to develop and manage the budget in a responsible and transparent manner and to be accountable to taxpayers.
Updates and resources related to the 2025-26 budget process will be added to the Budget section of the website as they become available.
School Budget Vote – May 20, 2025
Each spring, the board of education adopts a budget for the coming school year for a community vote. New York state has designated the third Tuesday in May as the date for school budget votes.
This year, the school budget vote and board of education election will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The vote will be held at the Harry Hoag Elementary School Library from 12 noon to 8 p.m.
Please mark your calendars and be sure to vote!
Board of Education adopts proposed 2025-26 proposed budget
During its regular meeting on April 10, 2025, the Fort Plain Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a proposed $24,000,000 budget for the 2025-26 school year.
The school budget represents an increase in spending of $156,000 or 0.65% over the current year budget. The spending plan will allow the district to maintain all current academic programs and personnel, and will provide for additional supports and learning opportunities for students.
Under this proposal, the tax levy would increase by 1.00%, which is below the district’s allowable tax cap of 5.15%. Because the tax levy increase remains below the district’s allowable limit, as determined by the state’s tax “cap” formula, a simple majority of voters (50% + 1) is needed to pass the budget.
Opportunities to learn about the school budget
Since the start of the year, district administration and the Board of Education have been at work developing a budget for the 2025-26 school year. The goal is to maximize the district’s resources to create a fiscally responsible budget for the district’s academic, athletic and extracurricular programs and essential services in order to meet students’ needs.
- Public Hearing – Proposed 2025-26 Budget—Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 6 p.m., District Office, 25 High Street, Fort Plain, NY.
Early Voting/Absentee Ballots
Early voting/absentee ballot applications may be obtained from the District Clerk, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Completed applications for ballots must be returned to 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.
Early/absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 20, 2025, the day of this year’s vote.
Voters approve 2024-25 Fort Plain school budget, elect three to school board
Fort Plain Central School District residents voted on May 21, 2024 to approve a $23,844,000 budget for the 2024-25 school year by a vote of 239 to 65.
Propositions
Voters also approved a referendum by a vote of 225 to 79 authorizing the district to purchase three school buses at a maximum cost of $450,000. These funds will be drawn from the Bus Purchase/Capital Reserve Fund. The purchase will have no impact on the tax levy.
A referendum to allow the Fort Plain Library to increase its annual taxpayer supported appropriation from $85,000 to $100,000 was also approved by a vote of 229 to 77. The library appropriation is separate and apart from the Fort Plain Central School District annual budget. These monies are raised annually along with other taxes on taxable property within the district and paid over by the Fort Plain municipality to the library’s trustees.
Board of Education election
Additionally, voters elected three individuals to fill vacancies on the Board of Education. The elected candidates are Sara McDuffee (247 votes), Neal VanSlyke (201 votes) and Joshua Parkinson (158 votes).
Sara McDuffee and Neal VanSlyke will serve three-year terms beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2027. Joshua Parkinson will serve a one-year and six-week term beginning May 21, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025 (which fills a vacancy created by a board member’s resignation.)
2024-25 School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election – May 21
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 is the date of the 2024-25 School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election.
Voting will take place in the Harry Hoag Elementary School Library from 11 a.m to 8 p.m.
Please mark your calendars and be sure to vote!
Proposed 2024-25 School Budget – at a glance
Proposed Budget: $23,844,000
Increase from 2023-24 budget: $524,000 / 2.25%
Tax Levy Increase: $84,934 / 1.43%
Learn more about the proposed 2024-25 school budget.
Voter information
To be eligible to vote, residents must live in the school district for at least 30 days prior to the May 21, 2024 election, be at least 18 years of age and be a citizen of the United States.
Learn about early voting, absentee ballots and voter registration.
What’s on the ballot?
In addition to the proposed 2024-25 budget, the community will vote on the following:
Propositions
Proposition 2: Bus Purchase
Residents will be asked to consider the purchase of three buses for approximately $450,000. This will be paid for from Bus Purchase and Capital Reserve funds and will have no impact on the 2024-25 tax levy.
Proposition 3: Fort Plain Free Library Appropriation
Residents will be asked to allow the Fort Plain Free Library to increase its annual taxpayer supported appropriation from $85,000 to $100,000. The library appropriation is separate and apart from the Fort Plain Central School District annual budget. These monies are raised annually along with other taxes on taxable property within the district and paid over by the Fort Plain municipality to the trustees of the library
Board of Education Election
Residents will vote to elect three members to the Fort Plain Board of Education to serve two three-year terms beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2027 and one one-year and six-week term beginning May 21, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025 (to fill a vacancy created by a board member’s resignation.)
The candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot are:
- Neal Van Slyke
- Sara McDuffee
- Janel Hearn*
- Jamie Bunker
- Joshua Parkinson
* Please note that Janel Hearn has sent notice to the District Clerk withdrawing her name as a candidate for 2024 Board of Education election due to personal circumstances.