Voters statewide go the polls May 17, to cast their ballots in the annual school board elections and district budget votes. Andrea Macko reports that in Greene County, all six school districts have proposed spending plans for the 2022-23 school year that fall below their state tax caps. If any budget is rejected by the voters, the district can resubmit the original spending plan or submit a revised proposal to voters on June 21. If that budget is also rejected, the district must adopt a contingency budget with a 0 percent tax levy increase.

Greene County
The Cairo-Durham School District is proposing a $35.18 million annual budget that carries a tax levy increase of 2.9 percent. The district is also looking for voters to approve three additional propositions: the purchase of six school buses at a cost not to exceed $686,000; the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund; and an $848 increase to the annual appropriation for the Cairo Public Library. Voters will select candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education each carrying three-year terms. Information at CairoDurham [dot] org.
The Catskill School District is proposing a budget of $48.6 million that carries a projected tax levy increase of 1.85 percent. The Board of Education has also proposed a separate proposition that would allow the district to bond up to $400,000 over a five-year period to replace aging maintenance and grounds equipment, as well as purchase a 16-passenger school bus. Voters will elect candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education that carry three-year terms. Information at CatskillCSD [dot] org.
The Greenville School District is proposing a budget of $33.7 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.25 percent. Voters will be asked to decide on a $700 increase for the Greenville Public Library and a $563 increase for the Rensselaerville Library. There will be a proposition to authorize the district to bond up to $1.2 million to purchase eight new buses and two vans as part of its fleet replacement plan. And, voters will be asked to approve the district to create a new capital reserve fund to be capped at $2 million. Voters will elect candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education that carry three-year terms. Information at Greenville [dot] K12 [dot] NY [dot] us.
The Coxsackie-Athens School District is proposing a budget of $34.7 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.92 percent. Voters will elect candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education that carry three-year terms. Information at CACSD [dot] org.
The Windham-Ashland-Jewett School District is proposing a budget of $13.26 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.76 percent. Voters will also decide on a capital project not to exceed $5,655,000. Voters will be selecting one Board of Education member to five-year terms. Information at WAJCS [dot] org.
The Hunter-Tannersville School District is proposing a budget of $14.7 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.36 percent. Voters will be asked to authorize the district to acquire school buses at a maximum cost of $73,000 from the Bus and Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund, and to authorize the acquisition of a transportation vehicle at a maximum cost of $39,000, also from the Bus and Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund. Voters will be asked to select one Board of Education member to fill five-year terms. Information at HTCSD [dot] org.

Columbia County
Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham School Board is proposing a budget of $33.62 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.75 percent. The board also adopted a separate proposition that would create a Capital Reserve Fund allowing the district to set aside up to $5 million over a 10-year period to fund future improvements to the district’s facilities. Voters will be asked to select four Board of Education members to serve terms of various duration. Information at ChathamCentralSchools [dot] com.
The Germantown School Board is proposing a budget of $16.9 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.69 percent. Voters will also be asked to select two Board of Education members to fill four-year terms. Information at GermantownCSD [dot] org.
The Hudson School District is proposing a budget of $54.13 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2 percent. Voters will be asked to select five Board of Education members to serve terms of various duration. Information at HudsonCSD [dot] org.
The Ichabod Crane School District is proposing a budget of $46.6 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.3 percent. The board is also asking for the approval of a $444,000 bus proposition, providing for the purchase of three new 72-passenger buses and one new 29-passenger bus. There is also a proposition to continue having a student non-voting member on the board. Voters will be asked to select three Board of Education members to serve three-year terms. Information at IchabodCrane [dot] org.
The New Lebanon School Board is proposing a budget of $12.9 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.3 percent. There is also a proposition on the ballot for the purchase of two 66-passenger buses at a cost not to exceed $251,000. Voters will also be asked to select three Board of Education members. Information at New LebanonCSD [dot] org.
The Taconic Hills School District is proposing a budget of $39.68 million budget with a projected tax levy increase of 1 percent. There are also propositions on the ballot for purchasing three school buses at a maximum cost of $393,500 and authorizing the board to reconstruct various district buildings and sites with incidental costs of $691,000. Voters will be asked to select four Board of Education members to serve terms of various duration. Information at TaconicHills [dot] K12 [dot] NY [dot] US.