Across the state, 99% of the school budgets for the 2023-2024 school year that stayed within the tax cap were passed by voters according to the NYS School Boards Association. Valley Central was one of those districts.
On Tuesday, May 16, 2022, Valley Central School District residents approved the 2023-2024 Budget of $125,850,000 with 901 yes votes (69.4%) and 398 no votes (30.1%). The budget-to-budget increase was 7.92% (due to a historic state aid funding increase to full value) and a tax levy of 0.92% although the allowable tax levy (by tax levy limit calculation) was 6.33%, thus providing a tax saving to every district taxpayer. Historically in NYS, 99% of budgets that stay within the allowable tax levy are passed. Valley Central is one of the schools within that percentage.
This budget also included a Capital Outlay or transfer to the Capital Fund of $500,000 to be used to refurbish the track to extend its useful life.
There were two propositions to fund Capital Project 2023 which passed by similar margins to the budget. Find more information on the Capital Project 2023 page.
A proposition to allow the BOE to establish Capital Reserve Fund 2023 was also passed.
Two Board of Education members were elected each for a three-year term: Katie McKnight and Frances Fox-Pizzonia. Joseph Bond was elected to fill a vacant seat which expires on June 30, 2024.
This budget maintains all programs for our students while staying under the tax cap and maximizing state aid. It is a fiscally responsible budget reducing the reliance on fund balance which ensures the future financial stability of the school district.
Fast Facts:
Proposed Budget: $125,850,000
Budget to Budget Increase: 7.93%
Proposed Tax Levy: 0.92%
The VCSD budget history which can be found here.
The Tax Levy stayed under the tax levy limit for 2023-24 at 0.92%. The Tax Levy History can be found here.
The 2023-2024 Budget :
- Maintains all programs while staying well below tax levy limit and maximizes State Aid increase
- Maintains all curricular and extracurricular programs
- Three new HS Courses
- Educational Field Trips
- Increases number of students sent to CTEC Program (BOCES)
- Behavior Intervention Specialists at MS and HS
- Continued Curriculum Development and Professional Learning
- Leadership Development
- District Grant Writer
- Data Consultant
- Additional Security Personnel/SRO’s
- Optimizes increase in state aid, and tax levy is UNDER the Allowable Tax Levy Limit
- Maintains the sound financial stability of the District
Sources of Revenue
State Aid: $52,767,774(42%)
Tax Levy: $66,968,860 (53%)
Other: $6,113,366 (7%)
Expenditures
Program Budget: $101,654,761 (81%)
The Program Budget includes: The salaries and benefits of all teachers, guidance counselors, aides, monitors, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and speech therapists. Also included are the costs associated with all the instruction and extra-curricular programs.
Capital Budget: $13,124,362 (10%)
The Capital Budget includes: Debt service on buildings; bus purchases; tax certiorari and court-ordered costs; and operations and maintenance costs including custodial staff.
Administrative Budget: $11,070,877 (9%)
The Administrative Budget includes: The salaries and benefits of all professional members who spend 50 percent or more of their time in administration and supervision. Also included are clerical staff; public information; curriculum development and supervision; research, planning, and evaluation; legal services; and school board-related costs.
The 2023-2024 Budget aligns with the District Strategic Goals.
- It aligns with the aspiration of Valley Central being rated in the top 5 schools in Orange County at the best value for the community.
- Valley Central provides quality education to the community’s children at the same time its per-pupil spending level is the third lowest in Orange County.