On May 17, 2022, Chatham Central School District voters approved the 2022-23 School Budget, approved the Capital Reserve Fund proposition, and elected Muriel Faxon, Fred Hutchinson, Beth Hover, and Marianne Pierro the Board of Education.

May 17, 2022 voting results:

Chatham Central School District 2022-23 Budget:  PASSED 338 yes - 153 no

Capital Reserve Fund: PASSED 354 yes - 136 no

Board of Education Candidates:

Muriel Faxon: 366 votes  3-year term running July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025

Fred Hutchinson: 333 votes  3-year term running July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025 and will start May 18, 2022 to fill the unexpired term left vacant by the resignation of Craig Simmons. 

Beth Hover: 322 votes  2-year term  running July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024

Marianne Pierro: 288 votes  1-year term  running May 18, 2022 - June 30, 2023 to fill the unexpired term left vacant by the resignation of Destiny Hallenbeck. 

On April 5, Chatham’s Board of Education adopted a proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year. The budget totals $33,618,101 and carries a projected tax levy increase of 2.75 percent, which is under the District’s 3.48 percent limit set by New York State’s property tax cap. Spending is up $567,718, a 1.72 percent increase from the 2021-22 budget.

Budget highlights include no cuts to student programs and the reallocation of a special education teaching position to increase special education support in grades k-1. Also included in the budget are bus replacement purchases and a capital project to replace the District’s letterboard sign on Woodbridge Avenue with a modern digital message board. 

In addition to the budget, the Board adopted a separate proposition that would create a Capital Reserve Fund that would allow the District to set aside up to $5 million over a ten-year period to fund future improvements to our facilities.   

Read 2022-23 budget overview...

Residents can learn more at a public hearing scheduled for May 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the Chatham High School library.

Keep an eye on your mailbox for our budget newsletter, to be mailed out in early May.

• Chatham CSD 2022-23 Educational and Program Budget

• Property Tax Report Card

• CCSD NYS School Report Card

• Financial Transparency Report

• 2022-23 School Budget Notice

• Legal Notice - 2022 Budget Vote & Board of Education Election

• Chatham CSD Reserve Plan 2021-2030

• 2022-23 Budget Public Hearing Video - May 10, 2022

• 2022-23 Budget Hearing Presentation, May 10, 2022

• Final Budget - BOE Meeting April 5, 2022

• Transportation, Benefits, Debt Service, Transfers, Special Ed, Capital Reserve - BOE Meeting - March 22, 2022

• Instructional, Technology, Cafeteria, Phase 1 - BOE Meeting March 8, 2022

• General Administrative & Support, Operations & Maintenance, Library - BOE Meeting February 15, 2022

• State Aid Revenue - BOE Meeting February 1, 2022

Contrary to popular belief, the NYS property tax cap does not cap tax increases at 2%. Instead, schools must use a state formula each year 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 may be different each year and must be determined by the District and submitted to the state by March 1st.

Chatham's allowable tax levy increase limit for 2022 is approximately 3.48%.

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 the number determined by the cap, a simple majority (50% + 1) of voter approval is needed to pass the budget. If the budget proposal carries a tax levy increase above the cap, a super majority (60%) of voter approval is needed for the budget to pass. More information on the NYS Property Tax Cap is available on the NY State Education Department Website.

Proposition #2 on the ballot allowed for the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund to assist the District in financing future construction projects. The maximum amount the District can place in the fund is a total of $5 million over a ten-year period. A Capital Reserve Fund is similar to a savings account and helps our school plan for long-term needs with little impact on the general budget. Voter approval was required to create the fund. The District will use it to set aside money only for future building and grounds improvements. 

Money for the Capital Reserve fund will primarily come from areas where budgeted expenses prove to be less than projected. If there is excess money left at the end of the school year, the District is able to put it in the Capital Reserve fund. The District is required to receive voter approval before it could spend any money in the Capital Reserve Fund. The District would provide details about any proposed Capital Reserve Fund spending and residents would vote on it in a future referendum.

The District completed a state-mandated building condition survey this school year and anticipates the need for capital work (construction and renovations to keep our facilities properly operating and benefit our educational program).

With voter approval, the District also created a Capital Reserve Fund in 2017 that has since reached its maximum limit and currently holds $3,434,945. Projected capital work costs are greater than what the District currently has in capital reserve, and therefore the District is seeking an additional Capital Reserve Fund.

The 2022 Board of Education Election was held Tuesday, May 17 from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School Gym. For more information please visit our Board Election page.

To be eligible to vote you must be:
• A citizen of the United States 18 years of age or older
• A resident of the Chatham Central School District for a period of 30 days or more directly preceding the date of the vote
• Registered to vote with either the School District or the Columbia County Board of Elections

Not registered to vote? You can register to vote with the school district on the following voter registration days:

• Wednesday, May 4, 2022 between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School lobby

• Wednesday, May 11, 2022 between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School lobby

In the interest of public safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, absentee ballots are available to any registered voter in the district. Applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the Office of the School District Clerk in the MED Elementary School, starting April 22, 2022. Applications must be received by the District Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on May 10 if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or prior to 4:00 p.m. on May 16 if the ballot will be picked up in-person. All absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 17, 2022.

Voters may obtain an absentee ballot upon request if they are unable to vote in-person on May 17. Provisional NYS law also allows voters to obtain an absentee ballot for the 2022 vote due to concern over exposure to COVID-19.

For more information, contact Deborah Pottenburgh, District Clerk, at 518-392-1501 or pottenburghd@chatham.k12.ny.us.

The 2021-22 budget totals $33,050,383 and carried a projected tax levy increase of 1.76 percent, which was under the limit set by New York State’s property tax cap. The budget carried an increase of $693,528, or 2.14 percent, from the 2020-21 budget. Read Budget Overview…

• More information about the 2021-22 Budget....

2020-2021 Budget Information
2019-2020 Budget Information
2018-2019 Budget Information
2017-2018 Budget Information
2016-2017 Budget Information
2015-2016 Budget Information
2014-2015 Budget Information
2013-2014 Budget Information
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