On Tuesday, May 16, Voorheesville Central School District residents voted in favor of the proposed $30,078,491 budget for the 2023-24 school year by a margin of 76% in favor and 24% opposed. The figures include absentee ballots. Rachel Gilker and Barbara Owens were elected to the school board of education. Voters approved the purchase of three new buses.
The 2023-24 school budget increases spending by $1,931,880 (6.86%), resulting in an estimated tax rate increase of less than 1%. The proposed tax levy increase of 2.50% is below the district’s 4.32% tax levy limit, or cap. As a result, the proposal needed a simple majority vote for approval. The vote was 452 yes and 141 no.
The 2023-24 budget maintains all current student programs and services and includes two new positions: a Dean of Students/Guidance Counselor at the elementary level and a Grade 6-12 Equity and Inclusivity Coordinator who will also act as Assistant Principal on the middle/high school campus. The two positions are being added to support students’ academic and social/ emotional needs. The 2023-24 budget also increases opportunities for students to obtain high level technical expertise through BOCES Career and Technical Education.
In addition, residents voted in favor of the school bus proposition to purchase one 72-passenger bus, one 65-passenger bus and one 30-passenger bus at a cost of $422,000.
“Thank you to the school community for supporting our budget and supporting our present and future students of VCSD,” Superintendent Frank Macri said. “Last year, students at the elementary school came up with the slogan, ““We are one school, one community, one heart,”” and that still holds true today.”
On May 16, voters also approved the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget for the Voorheesville Public Library.
Learn more on our Budget and Finance page