Schools
South Country Board Of Education Adopts 2023-24 Budget
The budget vote and trustee election will be held May 16 at Bellport Middle School.
Press release from the South Country Central School District:
April 28, 2023
Following a series of budget presentations by South Country Central School District Superintendent of Schools Antonio Santana, the board of education unanimously adopted the district’s 2023-24 school budget during its meeting on April 19.
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Through sound fiscal planning, the $140,882,000 proposed budget carries a tax levy of 2.75%. The budget maintains all existing programs and enhances several areas.
The budget adds new staff, including a director of technology, a restorative justice coach, a work-based learning coordinator, three special education teachers and a foreign language teacher for a new program for grade six. Additionally, funding is provided to help defray the cost of field trips for students from low-income families, for upgraded equipment for the antiquated high school Mac lab, and for the replacement of a playground and musical instruments that are no longer useable.
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The budget also includes a $1 million interfund transfer to capital. A transfer to capital is a budgeting tool that allows the district to make improvements to its facilities on an ongoing basis and also garner state building aid.
Along with the budget proposal, voters will be asked to vote on two additional propositions related to capital funds on May 16. At no additional cost to taxpayers, the district is asking voters to authorize the use of the district’s remaining $2.5 million in capital reserve funds for the needed replacement of windows at Verne W. Critz Elementary School. Additionally, voters will be asked to establish a new capital reserve fund with an eight-year cap of $10 million. If approved, the funds could only be used with voter approval for capital improvement projects.
To view the April budget adoption meeting, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-re3LhXA57E.
For more information on the 2023-24 budget, visit https://www.southcountry.org/board_of_education/budget_vote.
The budget vote and trustee election will be held on Tuesday, May 16, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Bellport Middle School.
This press release was produced by the South Country Central School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.
