On May 17, 2022, Chatham Central School District residents will decide on a $33,618,101 budget for the 2022-2023 school year, elect candidates to fill four open seats on the Board of Education, and decide on a seperate proposition that would allow the District to create a Capital Reserve Fund.
Voting will take place from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School gymnasium.
The school budget carries a projected tax levy increase of 2.75 percent, which is below the allowable tax levy limit of 3.48 percent set by the NYS property tax cap. Spending is up a total of $567,718, a 1.72 percent increase from the 2021-22 budget, largely the result of inflation, contractual obligations, and rising health and dental insurance premiums. The District’s ongoing practice of long-term planning and using reserves and fund balance to offset cost increases helped the District reduce the tax levy and keep it under the cap.
“This budget provides a good value for our community by being sensitive to our taxpayers and providing our students with what they need and deserve,” said Dr. Sal DeAngelo, Chatham’s superintendent of schools. “In this period of rapid inflation, our focus was on maintaining our entire educational program while remaining vigilant about keeping spending in check.”
Budget highlights include no cuts to student programming or staffing. To meet program needs, one special education teaching position no longer needed at the middle school was reallocated to the elementary school to increase special education support needed for kindergarten and first grade.
Included in the budget is the purchase of two large school buses to replace two buses with severe mechanical issues, part of the District’s ongoing bus replacement plan that keeps our fleet running safely and reliably. For every dollar spent on bus purchases, the District receives approximately $0.32 (32%) back in aid from New York State. Also built into the budget is a small capital project to replace the District’s letterboard sign on Woodbridge Avenue with a digital message board. As a capital project, the sign is eligible for 50 percent state aid.
Voting may also take place by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be applied for from the District Clerk, and must be returned to the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote.
More information can be found on our Budget Information page.