by Tony Gray

WHITEHALL, NY --- Voters will be asked to approve a school budget for 2021/2022 that won't raise property taxes even though the district proposes spending $723,000 more than last year's $17.1 million appropriation. Voting is scheduled for May 18, 2021 at the school.

Board of Education members at their regular April meeting approved asking voters to authorize spending $17.8 million next year. The proposal will allow 4.23 percent more funding because the district has a surplus of at least $1 million from this year, according to Whitehall Business Manager Kate DuBois. The savings came from line items like health insurance, transportation, field trips and substitute teacher pay, she said, adding about 40 percent of the surplus will be applied to next year's budget and the rest will go to a reserve account. Whitehall will also receive just over $600,000 more in New York State Foundation Aid next year, which the state uses to fund public schools. 

Whitehall should also receive $986,000 from a Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant, a $2.85 million grant from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) and perhaps $814,000 more for a Learning Loss grant. The application deadlines are currently set for late August so the funds should be available next year because they are non-competitive grants. Some of the money may be used to fund full-day pre-K for four-year olds, including transportation and meals. The district is collaborating with the Head Start program to develop that program. 

Board members also tasked administrators to determine if grant money could cover student costs of a class trip to Washington, D.C. The school plans two sophomore trips next year. A Fall semester trip will take this year's class (since their trip was covid-canceled) and a Spring trip for next year's sophomore class. Board members also approved Superintendent of Schools Patrick Dee's request to increase substitute teacher pay, to help attract more substitutes. Dee told members at their meeting teachers receive $25 for each extra class they instruct, so raising certified substitutes pay to $150 would basically match the average being paid now to cover classes for absent teachers. 

Taxpayers may ask why money will be added to school reserves rather than lowering property taxes rate since the district is getting so much extra money. "That a great question," DuBois said, noting reserves allow a budget to be smoothed out over a period of years. "You don't want to use all your savings in one year."

The Business Manager said it is easier for taxpayers to plan regular small increases in property taxes, like they do for utility bills. She added it is better than lowering taxes one year, then raising them the next year. The district has to look beyond the here and now, to plan for the future.

"We want to make sure future children have the same opportunities as the current children," DuBois said.