Millbrook BOE adopts $31.7 million budget; vote May 18

MILLBROOK — After several budget workshops, the Millbrook Central School District (MCSD) Board of Education (BOE) has adopted the 2021-22 school district budget that will be unveiled at a public hearing on Tuesday, May 4 (after press time), which will be put before voters on Tuesday, May 18. 

The ballot will ask for voters to pass Proposition A, for the proposed $31,714,951 school district budget, with a suggested tax levy of $25,418,814, an increase of .97% over this year’s budget.

Voters will also get to weigh in on Proposition 2, which seeks to increase the maximum amount for a district-wide renovation, reconstruction and construction reserve fund by $4 million, which would allow for a total savings of $10 million from now through 2029.  Those savings would go toward future capital projects to help upkeep district buildings and would not be able to be spent without voter approval.

The MCSD plans to assign $788,000 of its fund balance to offset taxes, according to Assistant Superintendent for Business, Finance and Operations Brian Fried, who said it will maintain an unrestricted, unreserved fund balance of 4%, the maximum permitted by law.  

Review of budget workshops

Among the items discussed during the many BOE budget workshops were the many differences between the current budget and next year’s budget due to COVID-19, and its many impacts on education.

Fried announced prior to the first budget workshop on March 9 that the district’s bond refinancing is complete and will save roughly $30,000 per year for the next six years. MCSD’s bond rating is very good, he said, rated at AA2. He said due to the pandemic, spending changed and that while some things are costing the district more, many cost less. There are also different expenditures and different means of revenue due to the health crisis.

“We can’t rely on current expenditures, because they are not ‘normal’ expenditures,” said Fried.

Also, he warned added revenue from the federal reimbursement program for meal delivery to students may decrease as students return to in-person learning and no longer need to have their food delivered to their homes. In fact, the reimbursement program may not remain viable, he said.

Other changes include enrollment figures. At the start of this year there were 882 students enrolled and currently there are 824 students. Staff needs also changed, as have programs.  There was a proposal to add a senior typist, two health aides, a special education teacher and a special education aide; two pre-k teachers and two pre-k aides were suggested, as was a part- or full-time monitor at Alden Place Elementary School.

Several costs are expected to drop in the coming year, including $10,000 in legal fees, maintenance equipment and gym equipment; $13,000 less will be needed for utility costs and one custodial salary; $30,000 less will be needed for one administrative salary; and finally, the Capital BOCES project is expected to cost less, which should save the MCSD roughly $90,650.

Further savings of $185,000 are expected in instructional salaries; $30,000 saved from a payment not needed to be made to Dutchess Community College; and money saved from buying $6,500 worth of textbooks that won’t be needed; $26,600 worth of International Baccalaureate fees that won’t be needed; and $7,150 was saved in Workers’ Compensation costs.

Some expenditures that have accrued during the coronavirus pandemic this past year include fees for Zoom meetings for administrators and staff and for distance learning and electronic equipment upgrades needed for remote learning. There were also additional purchases of cleaning supplies bought for the district. 

Other changes that affected the bottom line included adapting plans, activities and schedules; making special accommodations for graduation; and making special arrangements with the cafeteria staff to continue to provide breakfasts and lunches, much of which had to be delivered or made available to go to all students who rely on free or reduced meals from the district on a daily basis while schools were shut down. 

However, funds used to provide transportation to students to athletic events or class trips were used much less frequently during the past year, saving the district money.

A third proposition will be on the ballot for the BOE elections. There are two open seats this year, but only one candidate (see story this page). It’s now too late to register to get on the ballot, so the only way to run for the remaining open seat is to get elected as a write-in candidate. 

The BOE school  district budget vote, the vote on the propositions and the BOE election is set for Tuesday, May 18, from noon to 9 p.m. in the Millbrook Middle School auditorium, located at 43 Alden Place, Millbrook. A regularly scheduled BOE meeting will take place that evening at 7 p.m. in the middle school library.