BUDGET INFORMATION

2013 Budget Vote and BOE Election May 21

The Annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will be held in the MED gym on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., at which time, the election of members of the Board and the vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the School District for the 2013-2014 school year, and the vote upon any and all Propositions involving the expenditure of money or authorizing the levy of taxes will take place.

The Annual Budget Hearing will be held on May 14, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at CHS, at which the proposed 2013-2014 school budget will be presented to the voters of the District.

Board Adopts 2013-2014 Budget at April 16 Meeting

The Chatham Board of Education adopted the proposed budget for the 2013-2014 school year on April 16th. The budget totals $29,175,016 and carries a tax levy increase of 3.6%, which is less than the District’s NYS property tax cap threshold of 4.34%. Because the tax levy increase is below the state cap, a simple majority (50% + 1) of voter support will be needed for the budget to pass when residents go to the polls on May 21st. Board members also approved a proposition that, if passed by voters, would allow a student representative to sit on the Board as a nonvoting member. Read more...

Budget Development Calendar for 2013-14 Budget

Nov. 27, 2012

January 17, 2013

January 22, 2013

February 7, 2013

February 12, 2013

March 1, 2013

March 5, 2013

March 14, 2013

March 15, 2013

March 21, 2013

March 28

April 9, 2013

April 11, 2013

April 16, 2013

April 22, 2013

April 24, 2013

April 25, 2013

May 1, 2013

May 2, 2013

May 6, 2013

May 14, 2013

May 14 - May 17

May 18, 2013

May 20, 2013

May 21, 2013

Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. HS Library (Adoption of 2013-14 Budget Calendar)

Finance Committee Meeting (State Aid, ERS & TRS, budget and 5 year plan)

Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. HS Library (Governor’s projected State Aid)

Finance Committee Meeting (Property tax cap, budget)

Board Meeting 6:30 p.m. HS (Admin & Operations, Property tax cap, Phase 1’s)

Deadline to Certify Property Tax Cap Limit

Board Workshop 6:30 p.m. HS (Instructional, Library & Phase 2’s)

Finance Committee Meeting (Review budget updates)

Petitions for Board of Education candidates available from the District Clerk

Special Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. HS Library (Transportation, Benefits, Special Education & Cafeteria)

Finance Committee Meeting (Review state aid)

Board Workshop 6:30 p.m. HS Library (Budget Adjustments)

Finance Committee Meeting (Review final budget & Recommend)

Board Meeting 6:30 p.m. HS Library (Adoption of Proposed 2013-2014 Budget)

Last day for Board of Education candidates to submit petitions
(District Clerk performs drawing of names for position on ballot 5:00 p.m.)

Copies of Budget and required documents made available

Voter Registration, MED Lobby 4-8 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting Budget Presentation, Austerlitz Town Hall, Route 203, Spencertown, 6:30 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting Budget Presentation, Ghent Town Hall, Route 66, Ghent,
6:30 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting Budget Presentation, Canaan Town Hall, County Route 5, Canaan, 6:30 p.m.

Voter Registration, MED Lobby 2-7 p.m.
Last day to submit application for absentee ballot to receive ballot by mail
Annual Budget Hearing 6:30 p.m. HS Library

Voter register open for public inspection, Superintendent’s Office 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Voter register open for public inspection by appointment, Sup. Off. 9 am - Noon

Last day to request absentee ballot in-person

Annual Budget Vote and Election 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. MED Gymnasium

2013-2014 Budget Documents

Property Tax Cap Information

Contrary to popular belief, the property tax cap does not cap tax increases at 2 percent. Instead, public schools in NY must use a state formula to determine how much they can increase their tax levies by without having to seek a higher percentage of voter approval for the budget. This threshold must be determined and submitted to the State by March 1st.According to the formula, Chatham CSD may increase its 2013-14 tax levy by 4.34%. See how Chatham's tax levy limit was calculated...

If the year-to-year increase of the District's tax levy (portion of the school budget funded by property tax) is at or below 4.34%, a simple majority (50% + 1) of voter approval is needed to pass the budget. However, if the District puts before voters a budget that carries a tax levy increase above 4.34%, a super majority (60%) of voter approval is needed for the budget to pass.

More information on the NYS Property Tax Cap as it pertains to public schools is available through the links below.

Board of Education Election

For 2013, there are four candidates running for four open seats on the Board. Petitions for candidates seeking to run in the 2013 Board election were available between March 15 and April 22. On April 22, the District Clerk held a drawing to determine the order candidate names will appear on the ballot.

2013 Board candidates appear here in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Muriel Faxon
Craig Simmons
Gail Behrens Day
Melony Spock

The following seats are to be filled on the Board of Education:
Expiring Term - Melony Spock (current incumbent) commencing July 1, 2013, expiring June 30, 2016.
Expiring Term - Gail Behrens-Day (current incumbent) commencing July 1, 2013, expiring June 30, 2016.
Expiring Term - James Cartin (John Wapner current incumbent) commencing May 22, 2013, expiring June 30, 2016.
Unexpired Term - Francis Iaconetti (Muriel Faxon current incumbent) commencing May 22, 2013, expiring June 30, 2014.

Learn more about the role of Board of Education members...

Proposition #1

Proposition #1 on the May 21, 2013 ballot will ask voters to approve the position of an “Ex Officio” non-voting Student Representative on the Chatham Central School Board of Education. A student representative currently sits on the Board, but by law, the position must be approved by voters every two years.

What is a fund balance? How is it used?

A fund balance is a reserve much like a homeowner’s savings account. When a school district’s expenses are less than what was expected or revenues are higher than expected, the money is held in the fund balance. Districts use fund balance each year as revenue in the budget to minimize spending cuts and stabilize tax increases. The money is also used for unforeseen expenses throughout the school year. By law, a school district’s fund balance cannot exceed 4% of the next year’s budget. In challenging economic times like the present, school districts must plan carefully how they use their fund balance to ensure it does not run out.

What is the NY State's Gap Elimination Adjustment?

The Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) was proposed by Governor David Paterson as a one-time fix to reduce the state’s budget deficit. However, the state has continued to use it the past three years to cut millions of dollars in state aid to local school districts. Governor Cuomo's 2013-14 Executive Budget continues the Gap Elimination Adjustment for a fourth straight year. See how the GEA affects Chatham CSD...

Absentee Ballots

Applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the Office of the School District Clerk. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the School District Clerk by or prior to 5 p.m. on May 14, 2013 if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter; or prior to 4 p.m. on May 20, 2013 if the ballot will be picked-up personally by the voter.

Previous Budgets

2012-2013 Budget Information
2011-2012 Budget Information
2010-2011 Budget Information
2009-2010 Budget Information

Questions or comments about the budget? Email them to budget@chatham.k12.ny.us