BUDGET: Providing Opportunities O

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1 Connections SPRING A N E W S L E T T E R F O R C H A T H A M S T U D E N T S, P A R E N T S & C O M M U N I T Y Chatham SPECIAL BUDGET ISSUE 2018 < BUDGET VOTE > Tuesday, May 15, a.m. 9 p.m. MED Elementary School What Will I be Voting on May 15? A $31,936,305 BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR This budget is $1,099,330 (3.56%) more than the budget. This budget carries a projected 2.49% tax levy increase which is under the the NYS property tax cap. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROPOSITION #2: Would allow the District to spend not more than $9,784,665 to make renovations and improvements to its buildings and grounds. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROPOSITION #3: Would allow the District to spend not more than $1,213,388 to install a comprehensive, district-wide video security system. SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION Selection of candidates to fill five seats on the Board of Education, who will appear on the ballot in the following order: 1. Patricia Wilson 2. David O Connor 3. Denise Barry 4. Beth Hover *5th seat may be filled by write-in candidate BUDGET: Providing Opportunities O n May 15th, residents of the Chatham Central School District will head to the polls to decide on a $31,936,305 budget for the school year. The budget carries a projected tax levy increase of 2.49 percent, which is under the District s allowable tax levy increase of 2.62 percent set by the NYS property tax cap. Because the budget is under the cap, most District homeowners will be eligible to receive the NYS STAR Property Tax Rebate in the fall. This budget enhances Chatham s educational program yet remains fiscally responsible to the community, said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Sal DeAngelo. It contains no cuts to staffing or programs, adds learning opportunities for students and invests in their health and wellbeing, while also offering taxpayers a spending plan that keeps taxes under what the tax cap allows. Spending is up a total of $1,099,330, a 3.56 percent increase from the current year s budget. This increase is largely due to factors such as inflation, contractual obligations, an increase in the need for special education services, and rising health insurance premiums. The District used reserves and fund balance to reduce the impact of the budget increase on the tax levy. As with each year, staffing levels were carefully examined and adjusted to meet program needs. The district added a grant-funded psychologist coach position as well as more funding for mental health/school safety support, both of which will be applied district-wide. A half-time secretary position was added to match a restructuring of our administration, and the District increased a contracted BOCES data analysis position by one half-day per week. Budget highlights also include the addition of new college-in-high-school Computer Science and Economics courses, and a new College Bound Math course at the High School; a Robotics & Automation program and full funding for the Social & Emotion Learning program at the Middle School, and the addition of two early intervention Summer School programs at the Elementary School. Included in the budget are the purchases of two large school buses and one medium bus. These bus purchases are part of the District s ongoing bus replacement plan, which keeps our fleet running safely and reliably by swapping out older, high-mileage vehicles. Also included in the budget is a small capital project to replace the swipe card door-access security system at the Middle School. Voting on the budget will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School gymnasium. Voters will also be asked to elect candidates to fill five open seats on the Board of Education, as well as decide on two capital project propositions: a $9,784,665 buildings & grounds renovation project, and a $1,213,388 security camera project. More information on the budget and educational plan can be found at

2 2018 Capital Improvement Project PROPOSITION #2: BUILDINGS & GROUNDS RENOVATIONS P roposition #2 on the ballot would authorize Chatham Central School District to spend $9,784,665 to shore up aging infrastructure as well as address safety and security at the District s facilities. This project would address approximately 67 items, which include building renovations and site work at Chatham High School, Chatham Middle School, Mary E. Dardess Elementary School, the bus garage, and Chatham Public Library. Following a recent building condition survey, the Facilities Committee and Board of Education determined that the items included in this project need to be addressed in order to keep our facilities in good operating condition and avoid more costly repairs down the road. This project would not raise taxes under current market conditions. As a capital improvement project, the work would be entitled to 49.6 percent building aid from NY State. This financial aid, combined with money the District set aside in voter-approved reserve accounts, will allow the District to pay for the project without the need to levy additional taxes. Chatham CSD would enter into a 15-year bond. NY State building aid would reimburse the District for approximately half of the total cost, and the District would expend $2,084,472 from the 2008 Capital Reserve Fund, $2,000,000 from the 2015 Capital Reserve Fund, $1,139,235 from the 2017 Capital Reserve Fund, as well as $150,000 from unappropriated fund balance, to pay the other half. q Proposition #2 is a stand-alone project that does not require the passage of any other proposition q No Additional Tax Impact PROPOSITION #3: SECURITY CAMERAS P roposition #3 would authorize the District to spend $1,213,388 to install video security cameras covering Chatham High School, Chatham Middle School, Mary E. Dardess Elementary School, the bus garage, and Chatham Public Library. The District would install approximately 158 cameras as part of a modern, integrated system. The system would cover hallways, entrances/exits, and other areas inside and outside of our buildings. Individual cameras could be accessed remotely and monitored in real time by administrators or other authorized personnel, however the system would be designed to record 24-hours-a-day and store video for a period of 14 to 30 days (storage time depends on the system the District chooses) for later review if necessary. Chatham CSD would enter into a 15-year bond. NY State building aid would reimburse the District for approximately half of the total cost, and the District would levy an additional $54,500 in annual taxes over a 15-year period to pay the other half, or local share. This equates to an estimated $4.00 of additional taxes per $100,000 dollars of property value. Example: a home assessed at $200,000 would see its annual property taxes increase by approximately $8.00. q This project is dependent on Proposition #2 - if voters do not approve Proposition #2, Proposition #3 will not pass. If voters approve Proposition #2 but do not approve Proposition #3, only the work under Proposition #2 would be completed. q Annual Tax Impact: $4 per $100,000 of assessed property value A Capital Project Newsletter with more information on Propositions #2 and #3 was mailed to residents in April. Additional information, including a complete scope of work and videos detailing the proposals, is available at CHATHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY Did you know that this school budget fully supports the Chatham Public Library? That s because the Library is part of the Chatham Central School District, one of only a few public libraries in the state that exist within a school system. This past year, the Chatham Public Library and its branch in Canaan served more than 4,360 active borrowers, who checked out items 63,422 times, accessed the Library s online media collection 6,735 times, and used its public computers for 5,947 sessions. The Library also offered 338 programs for children and adults, which were attended by over 3,600 patrons. 2

3 Most CCSD Homeowners Eligible for STAR Property Tax Rebate NYS implemented a STAR Rebate program for the years 2016 through The rebate applies to homeowners who receive the STAR Exemption and who live in school districts that pass budgets at or below their tax levy cap. Because Chatham s budget keeps the tax levy below its 2.62 percent cap, eligible homeowners earning $275,000 or less will receive a rebate check from NYS in the fall. The amount homeowners will receive is based on a percentage of the homeowner s STAR Exemption/Credit benefit, with lower incomes receiving a higher percentage benefit. The STAR Rebate is in addition to the tax savings residents already see through their STAR Exemption/Credit. HOW IS THE DISTRICT STRENGTHENING PROGRAM? At Chatham Central Schools, we are continually updating our academic program to provide students with a first-class education. Below are examples of program initiatives for next year that this budget supports. College in High School CHS will add two courses, taught by CHS faculty, where students can earn college credit while in high school; a Computer Science course accredited through Siena College, and an Economics course accredited through Syracuse University. College Readiness CHS will offer a new College Bound Math class to strengthen students math skills and assist them in meeting general math requirements for college. Early Intervention MED elementary school will add two summer school programs for Chatham s youngest students; one for students entering kindergarten, and a second for students entering first grade. These programs will prepare students at risk of falling behind for success in their upcoming school year. Social and Emotional Learning The budget will provide full funding for CMS social and emotional learning program, an ongoing school-wide program that provides monthly themed activities, guest speakers, and projects to help students build positive character traits and address issues such as bullying. This program had previously been supported in part by grants. STEAM Learning CMS will beef up its eighth grade technology course with a focus on robotics & automation. This hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) program will give students new and exciting opportunities to explore, build, and program automated devices. Mental Health Using funding from a grant, Chatham Central Schools will hire a psychologist coach for This professional development position will work with teachers in all three schools to build our staff s capacity to identify and support students who are struggling with social or emotional challenges. CMS Building Access System Replacement Included in the budget is a small capital project to replace the security access system at Chatham Middle School. The building s current employee swipe-card system is outdated and no longer supported by the company that produced it, making maintenance difficult and upgrades to the system impossible. The project would not exceed $100,000. It also does not increase next year s budget because money for small annual capital projects has already been built into the budget. Chatham is entitled to 49.6 percent state aid on capital projects, so the District would be reimbursed for approximately half of the cost. A similar capital project replaced the building access system at the Elementary School this year, and the District plans to similarly replace the High School building access system in the year following next. 3

4 HOW WAS THE BUDGET DEVELOPED? The proposed budget is part of a five-year fiscal plan to manage the financial stability of our school and provide our community s children with a first-class education. School officials carefully weigh how budgeting decisions will affect not only the current budget year, but also how those decisions will impact District finances in the years to come. The District s Finance Committee, comprised of Board members, school officials, and community members, reviews all aspects of the budget throughout its development and makes recommendations to the Board of Education, beginning in November with a review and update of Chatham s Financial Reserve Plan. In developing the budget, school officials follow several guiding principles: provide a strong educational program that prepares students for success after graduation; base staffing on enrollment and program needs; remain sensitive to taxpayers and the economic climate; maximize available resources; seek savings through efficiency measures; and do not use one-time funding sources to cover ongoing expenses. In January, the District developed revenue projections for next school year based on Governor Cuomo s state budget proposal, which included a 0.25 percent increase in operating aid for Chatham. In February, the District calculated its tax levy cap using the required state formula, which capped Chatham s 2018 tax levy growth at 2.62 percent. As a matter of practice, District officials reviewed the budget line-by-line and made adjustments to staffing, equipment, and supplies based on program needs, student enrollment, efficiency measures, and state mandates. The District also applied money from reserve accounts and allocated fund balance to help offset cost increases. On March 30, the state legislature adopted the NYS budget, which included a 2.4 percent increase in operating aid and an overall increase in state aid for Chatham of 3.4 percent. The District used this unexpected bump in aid to strengthen program as well as reduce the tax levy increase to 2.49 percent, which is below the District s 2018 tax cap. The Board of Education adopted its proposed budget for Chatham Central Schools on April 17. Public budget presentations were made at regularly scheduled Board meetings beginning in January, and at a Public Hearing on the proposed budget and educational plan held May 1. Copies of presentations and other budget documents were posted to the school website as they became available. HOW IS THE DISTRICT USING RESERVES AND FUND BALANCE? As a general practice, Chatham has used reserve accounts and fund balance to help reduce year-to-year tax levy increases. Use of reserves and fund balance are part of the District s long-term fiscal plan to provide for the long-term financial stability of the District. The District allocated $1,341,600 of fund balance to reduce the tax levy increase. Fund balance is a reserve much like a savings account. When District expenses are less than what was expected, or revenues are higher than projected, money remaining at the end of the year is held in the fund balance. The District utilizes fund balance each year as revenue in the budget to minimize spending cuts and hold down tax increases. In previous years, the District also created voter-approved Capital Reserve Funds to pay for large-scale construction projects. If voters approve the Proposition #2 buildings & grounds renovation project, the money held in these accounts would be used to pay for the project, which along with state building aid and fund balance, would allow the District to complete the work without the need to raise additional taxes. Chatham s Financial Reserve Plan is available on the Budget News page at WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BUDGET IS DEFEATED? If voters do not approve the budget proposal on May 15th, the Board of Education has the following options: put the same budget or a revised budget up for vote on June 19th, or adopt a contingency budget. If the budget is again defeated on June 19th, the Board must adopt a contingency budget. The NYS property tax cap law holds a contingency budget s tax levy increase at 0 percent, requiring the District to levy the same amount of taxes or less as it did in 2017, regardless of cost increases. A contingency budget prevents spending on new equipment, except when concerning safety, and also limits public use of District facilities. However, all state mandated programs, whether funded by state aid or not, would need to be retained. These regulations mean that in a contingent budget, the Board would need to make $954,385 in cuts from the budget proposal. Therefore, the District would be required to eliminate any projected purchases of new equipment from the budget, including replacement buses, and would consider other cuts to our instructional and non-instructional budgets. 4

5 Proposed Budget BUDGET PROPOSED Instructional & Occ. Education $7,800,141 $7,922,473 Special Education $3,086,009 $3,270,428 Summer School $43,435 $53,695 Student Services $1,707,904 $1,941,799 Extracurricular $110,900 $110,900 Inter-Scholastic $301,625 $296,725 Community-Adult Education $47,718 $47,718 Administrative/BOE $1,496,353 $1,520,543 Supervision/Curriculum $1,114,673 $1,289,964 Transportation $1,850,178 $1,949,389 Operations & Maintenance $2,109,074 $2,140,413 Employee Benefits $8,484,827 $8,726,795 Debt Service $1,695,405 $1,702,055 Interfund Transfers $988,733 $963,408 TOTAL $30,836,975 $31,936,305 Estimated Revenues BUDGET BUDGET Property Tax $21,653,460 $22,192,631 Local Revenue $274,051 $614,000 State Aid $7,529,635 $7,788,074 Reserves $38,229 - Appropriated Fund Balance $1,341,600 $1,341,600 TOTAL $30,836,975 $31,936,305 Instructional & Occ. Education 24.81% Summer School % Community-Adult Educ % Extracurricular % Property Tax 69% Special Education 10.24% Employee Benefits 27.33% Operations & Maintenance 6.7% State Aid 24% Transportation 6.10% Student Services 6.08% Supervision/ Curriculum 4.04% Interfund Transfers Inter- 3.02% Scholastic.93% Local Revenue 2% Debt Service 5.33% Admin./ BOE 4.76% Appropriated Fund Balance 4% Property Tax Report Summary % Change Total Budgeted Amount, not Including Separate Propositions $30,836,975 $31,936, % Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy $21,653,460 $22,192, % Permissible Exclusions to the School Tax Levy Limit $837,253 $829,405 School Tax Levy Limit, Excluding Levy for Permissible Exclusions $20,858,140 $21,391,493 Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy, Excluding Levy to Support Library $20,816,207 $21,363,226 Debt and/or Permissible Exclusions Difference: (G - H); (negative value requires 60.0% voter approval) 41,933 28,267 Public School Enrollment 1,067 1, % *Complete Property Tax Report Card available at 5

6 2018 Board of Education Candidates There are four candidates running for five open seats on the Board of Education. The three highest vote getters will be elected to three-year terms. The candidate who receives the fourth most votes will serve a two-year term and the candidate who receives the fifth most votes will serve a one-year term (these shorter terms fill the remainder of two terms left vacant by resignations on the Board). One seat may be filled by a write-in candidate. The candidates were asked to write a brief article about themselves. PATRICIA WILSON DAVID O CONNOR DENISE BARRY BETH HOVER Since October 2016 I have served as a community representative on the BoE Policy Committee, responsible for updating its policies. This appointment has provided me an overview of District operations, as well as an appreciation of its academic and fiscal challenges. As grandparent of two District students, I have attended academic and extracurricular events to observe firsthand the caliber of programs. I believe I could make a vital contribution to the District as a Board member. I am a retired DoD audit manager with over 30 years of experience successfully auditing major contractors. I hold a BA from Bates College and MBA from WNEC. I have also earned CPA, CISA, and CFE credentials. I would bring to the BoE strong organizational, communication, planning, and budgeting skills, and the ability to set and achieve realistic and fiscally sound educational goals. Moreover, my extensive recruitment and interviewing of both professional and administrative candidates has given me an appreciation of what skills today s student needs to be able to succeed in whatever career path he/she chooses. I graduated from Chatham in 1977 and Union College in I was a surface warfare naval officer for 20 years retiring as a Commander. During my military career I completed a Masters Degree in Public Administration. I am a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Chatham, and have been with the company 15 years. I was first elected to the Board in My significant experiences in management, finance, community service, and leadership uniquely qualify me to continue service on the Board. I love this community, and am totally committed to our schools being the best they can be for all stakeholders. Our Superintendent is an exceptional leader, who is poised to have Chatham public education meet new heights. I see on the near horizon: exciting academic programs helping every student meet their full potential; wellness programs that insure our kids understand and develop the nutritional, physical, and emotional/mental wellness to live their lives to the fullest; and, continuing efficient and effective school finances that maintain excellence and sustainability. I consider it an honor to help to plan the education of children in our community. As a graduate of Chatham High School and with advanced degrees in education, I have fond memories of schooling years ago and forty years of experiences as a special education teacher in the Albany and Hudson City School Districts with a separate thirty-year summer career as an administrator and teacher in local prisons. Dealing with challenges including availability of resources, declining enrollment, and rising expectations requires commitment. We must continue to develop and implement policies over the short and long term while building public support and influencing the lives of children through positive impact. As the longest serving member of the Board of Directors of COARC (43 years) and member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Columbia/Greene Counties, volunteerism has played an important part in my life. It will be a privilege to continue working with the other Board members and the school community in fulfilling the vision of Chatham s Board of Education. My name is Beth Hover and I write to express my desire to be allowed to continue serving the residents of Chatham on the Chatham Central School Board. My 3 year experience has provided me insight into the many needs of our district. A good board member is one who is willing to address all challenges including the availability of resources, declining enrollment and rising academic expectations. One must be able to do this while being conscious of the individual community members. My educational background gives me insight into the many academic topics we discuss. I also understand the perspectives of parents and grandparents since I raised 3 sons in this community and take an active role in my grandchildren s lives now. Since retirement I have taken on a second career as a realtor. It allows me to understand the tax concerns of senior citizens and second home owners. I believe my experience outlined above will allow me to serve you, the community effectively and productively. 6

7 School District Budget Notice 7

8 Chatham Central School District 50 Woodbridge Avenue Chatham, NY Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 107 CAR-RT SORT POSTAL CUSTOMER Produced in cooperation with the Questar III Communications Service ADMINISTRATORS Sal DeAngelo, Ed. D Superintendent Michael Chudy School Business Administrator Brian Simon Director of Special Education Kristen Reno Mary E. Dardess Elementary School Principal Richard Sutton Mary E. Dardess Elementary School Assistant Principal Michael Burns Chatham Middle School Principal John Thorsen Chatham High School Principal Eric Papandrea Chatham HS Assistant Principal BOARD MEMBERS Term Expires Craig Simmons 2019 President Muriel Faxon 2019 Vice President Denise Barry 2018 Rachel Galvin 2020 Beth Hover 2018 Winnie Hoffman Legere 2020 Tom Luzzi 2018 Sarah Mellin 2018 David O Connor 2018 Gabriela Neven 2018 Student Representative ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? If you have not previously registered to vote with either the Columbia County Board of Elections or the School District and would like to vote in this election, you must register with the School District Board of Registration. Our next Voter Registration Day is Wednesday, May 9th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. in the MED Elementary School lobby. VOTER INFORMATION Voting will take place on Tuesday, May 15, :00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School gymnasium, 50 Woodbridge Avenue, Chatham ABSENTEE BALLOTS Absentee ballots may be applied for at the Office of the District Clerk, located in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary building ( ). Applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. May 8 if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter; or 4:00 p.m. May 14 if the voter wishes to receive the ballot in person. BUDGET DETAILS AVAILABLE ONLINE! Information about the budget is available on the Chatham Central School District webpage at: