May 20, 2013

School budget vote day: May 21, 2013 from noon to 9 p.m. in the HS gym.

2013-14 PROPOSED BUDGET :  $20,277,789
Proposed Spending increase:  0.63 percent, or $127,308
Proposed  tax levy increase: 3.92 percent or $344,356
Maximum allowable tax levy increase: 3.92 percent
Because the district's proposed levy increase is at the district's allowable limit, a simple majority is needed to approve the district budget.

2013 Budget Newsletter (A printed version of this newsletter will be mailed to district residents May 10.)

2013-14 Budget Book, featuring the line-by-line budget

 

May 8, 2013

On the ballot

Take a look at the propositions voters will be asked to decide on May 21. MORE

May 1, 2013

Board adopts budget proposal

Middleburgh Central School District Board of Education adopted a proposed district budget on April 24 that would preserve current student programming at set the tax levy increase at 3.92 percent. District residents will vote on a proposed $20,277,789 budget for the 2013-14 school year on Tuesday, May 21. The proposed budget increases spending by 0.63 percent, or $127,308, from the current school year and carries a tax levy increase of 3.92 percent, or $344,356. MORE

April 22, 2013

Community priorities survey results available

The Middleburgh Central School District Board of Education and district administrators asked district residents, business owners, parents, staff, and students to share their thoughts on what they feel makes an excellent education for MCS students in an anonymous (non-scientific) online survey. Feedback from this survey was just one of the tools the board used when creating a proposed 2013-14 budget. Full survey results are now available. Thank you to all who participated.

April 18, 2013

BOE works to close budget gap

The Middleburgh Central School District Board of Education continued efforts to close the district’s budget gap, which after last night’s actions, remains at $33,000. MORE

April 11, 2013

Special board meeting set for April 17

Middleburgh Central School District Board of Education announced last night that it will hold a special board meeting on Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in the high school library to discuss the results of the community priorities survey and to recommend budget adjustments. MORE

April 9, 2013

What are YOUR priorities for MCS?

The Middleburgh Central School District Board of Education and district administrators would like district residents, business owners, parents, staff, and students to share their thoughts on what they feel makes an excellent education for MCS students. Please take a few minutes to fill out this anonymous online survey, which aims to identify what YOUR priorities are for staff positions and student opportunities and programming within the district. Feedback will be taken into consideration as the budget development process continues. - UPDATE: This survey closed April 15. Thank you to all who participated.

April 8, 2013

Budget questions answered

Members of the MCS community were invited to submit questions for the Budget Q&A forum held March 27. Below are the questions that were submitted, along with answers from district officials. MORE

March 29, 2013

MCS Board of Education sets preliminary levy at 3.92 percent increase

On March 27, MCS business manager Terry Gillooley presented the preliminary 2013-14 budget to the MCS Board of Education. The $20,597,093 preliminary budget has a spending increase of $446,612. MORE
 

March 28, 2013

Residents weigh in with budget survey

Community members were recently asked to share their thoughts on the tax levy, the budget process and budget communications with the district. The full results of the survey are now available. View Survey Report (PDF). Thank you to all who participated.

March 27, 2013

Explaining the budget process

Middleburgh Central School District residents have the final say on the annual school budget spending plan when they vote on the third Tuesday of each May. Prior to that vote, several steps and a lot of work must take place to craft a balanced budget proposal.  MORE

March 27, 2013

Assembly budget would increase MCS aid by nearly $1.2 million

Early this morning, the New York State Senate adopted a budget that will increase state aid to schools by about $1 billion. It now moves on the state Assembly. Under the Assembly’s proposal, Middleburgh Central School District could see an increase of nearly $300,000 more than the estimated aid proposed in the Governor’s Executive Budget in January. This would result in a total state aid increase of $1,171,376 from 2012-13 to 2013-14 for MCS. The Assembly plans to vote on Thursday. The deadline for a state budget is April 1.

March 26, 2013

NYS property tax cap: What is it and how does it affect our schools?

March 21, 2013

Coffee Talk schedule for April 1

A review of the 2013-14 budget and a budget Q&A will be the focus of a Coffee Talk scheduled April 1 from 6-8 p.m. at Preston Hollow Fire House, 3100 SR 145 Highway, Preston Hollow, NY 12469. Come join in the conversation.

March 18, 2013

Budget Q&A Forum set

Do you have a budget-related question(s) you would like the MCS Board of Education and/or district administrators to answer? Questions from the public will be presented to the board and district administrators at an open forum on Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m. in the HS library, following a brief budget presentation. The public is encouraged to fill out a short anonymous online budget-related survey that includes an opportunity to ask budget-related questions of district officials. Questions can also be e-mailed to kim.lawyer@middleburghcsd.org. Answers to submitted questions will also be posted on the district's website in the budget section, along with the survey results.

March 14, 2013

MCS maximum levy limit calculated at 3.92 percent

According to the state calculation put forth as part of the tax levy limit legislation, Middleburgh Central School District has a maximum allowable levy limit increase for 2013-14 of 3.92 percent, or $344,356.

March 14, 2013

Preliminary BOE budget presentation available

View the preliminarily budget presentation given to the MCS Board of Education by MCS Business Manager Terry Gillooley.

Feb. 11, 2013

March 1 is STAR exemption deadline

New York homeowners have until March 1 to apply for STAR school property tax exemptions. The Basic STAR exemption is available to all homeowners, who need apply ONLY ONCE unless they move or change ownership of their primary residence. The Enhanced STAR exemption is available to homeowners who will be 65 years of age by Dec. 31, 2013, and who have an adjusted gross income of $79,050 or less on their 2011 tax return. Enhanced STAR participants MUST REAPPLY to their town assessor every year to prove that they still meet income requirements. For more information and application forms, contact your town assessor.

Jan. 30, 2013

Breaking down MCS's proposed state aid

As part of Gov. Cuomo's Executive Budget Proposal, schools are presented with an estimate of the school aid proposed under the governor's budget. While the governor proposed a 3.3 percent increase in education funding, it does not translate to a 3.3 percent increase for each school district.  For 2013-14,  MCS may see an increase in aid of $67,786, or 0.86 percent. These numbers are not final. The legislators must still approve the final state budget. MORE

Jan. 30, 2013

State Executive Budget continues to put school districts in financial hole

Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed his proposed budget last week to fund New York State in 2013-14. The budget proposes $10,302,291 in overall state aid for Middleburgh Central School for the 2013-14 school year, an increase of $876,429 or 9.3 percent. However, when building aid is removed, MCS received a state aid increase of $67,786 or 0.86 percent. MORE

Nov. 19, 2012

Community: Come voice your thoughts

The Middleburgh Central School District Board of Education, Superintendent and Business Manager will host meeting for parents, students, and community members at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28 in in the MS/HS Library to discuss preliminary planning for the 2013-2014 budget. The district hopes to solicit input from attendees about what they value about MCSD and what the district’s priorities should be and to answer any questions about the budget process.

Nov. 19, 2012

BOE to start budget discussions

The Middleburgh Central School Board will begin to look at the upcoming 2013-14 school budget during the regularly scheduled meetings, beginning on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the MS/HS Library. Budget discussions will be held at the start of the evening in an attempt to encourage interested community members to come and hear the latest information while not feeling like they need to stay for the remainder of the business meeting.

With the current economic climate and cuts in state aid, it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the level of programming and staffing in MCSD, as in most districts across the state. To stay informed about MCSD's budget process and to help shape the future of the district, please join us for these discussions.

2012-13 Budget Archive