Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Ichabod Crane Board of Education May 19, approved a $42-million proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year. The spending plan meets the state mandated tax levy cap of 2.57 percent; it does not include any cuts in staff or programs. Expenditures reflect an increase of about $785,000, or 1.89 percent, over the current budget. Voters will also be asked to approve the purchase of four school buses at the cost of $444,388. Five people are running for three open seats on the school board — incumbents Tammy Crawford and Susan Ramos, as well as newcomers Elaine Berlin, John Chandler and Kelly Firmbach. District Business Manager Michael Brennan said the district does have a plan if state aid is cut and the last resort would be to cut staff and programming. He noted the district does have reserve funds that can be used and school district officials can look at reducing some equipment and supply costs. Brennan said all qualified residents will be mailed a ballot on May 26 and voters must mail their ballots to the district office in the postage-paid return envelope provided by the district. He said all ballots must be received by June 9 at 5 p.m. to be counted. Unlike other elections, postmark dates will not make a ballot on time. Ballots must be in the possession of the school district by 5 p.m. on June 9 to be counted. The board will hold a budget public hearing June 2. Details will be posted at ichabodcrane [dot] org. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.