By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
The Baldwinsville Central School District will spend between $35,000 and $40,000 to print and mail 25,000 absentee ballots for the 2020-21 budget vote, the BCSD Board of Education learned at its May 11 meeting.
The board voted to approve the 2020-21 budget, which district residents will vote on by mail by June 9.
Rodems said he is working with Public Information Specialist Sarah Buckshot to get the word out about the budget vote through the district’s newsletter, The Hive, as well as through the school’s website and social media.
Rodems said district officials will count the ballots by hand at the new transportation center in two-hour shifts. The process will take between several hours and days, so the district might call upon other employees and volunteers to lend a hand.
“Nobody’s going to be able to sit there and do this for eight hours. You’ll lose accuracy,” Rodems said.
The district cannot begin opening and counting ballots until 5:01 p.m. June 9. Rodems said the district might have a law enforcement officer guard the ballots until the time comes to open them.
If voters reject the budget, Assistant Superintendent of Management Jamie Rodems said, the district can put forth the same or a reduced budget for a new vote by June 30. He said it would be a struggle for the district to redo the vote.
“We could try to do it, but it would be an adventure,” Rodems said.
The district could also move to a contingency budget, which would not raise taxes but would require cuts and would bar the district from making non-instructional and equipment purchases. Also, the community would only be able to use district facilities if they can pay the full cost for use.
Budget highlights
The BOE unanimously approved the 2020-21 budget. Here are the highlights:
The total expenditures for the 2020-21 school year will be $112,259,824, which is a 2.38% increase over the current year’s budget.
Revenues for the district total $112,259,824, which includes:
• Tax levy: $58,965,771
• State aid and building aid: $45,177,527
• Miscellaneous revenue (including PILOTs, Onondaga County sales tax and other income): $3,709,939
• Appropriated fund balance: $2,604,365
• Appropriation from reserves: $1,802,222 (including $1,642,222 from the Employees’ Retirement System plus $160,000 from the Workers’ Compensation Reserve)
“The tax rate is estimated to be $23.95 per $1,000 assessment or $2,395.01 per $100,000 home. This is 2.22% higher than the 2019-20 rate, and is at the state tax cap,” Rodems wrote in an email to the Messenger.
Also on the ballot
In addition to the 2020-21 budget, voters will be asked to consider the following propositions:
• Proposition 2: 11 student transport vehicles, maximum cost of $1,199,146
• Proposition 3: One Cat loader and one snow plow truck, $341,000
• Proposition 4: Six candidates will compete for three seats on the board of education, which have three-year terms. The seats are currently held by Jeffrey Marier, Jennifer Patruno and Matthew Yager, all of whom are running for re-election. The challengers for the seats are Edwin Curry, Burrill Wells and Michael Wells.
The ballot also includes two propositions related to the Baldwinsville Public Library. Voters will be asked to approve the library’s 2020-21 budget of $1,500,700. Also, one five-year term on the library’s board of trustees is up for election. The seat is currently held by trustee Susan P. Downey, who will not be seeking reelection.
The Baldwinsville Central School District will send out postcards to registered voters with information about the June 9 budget vote, the June 2 budget hearing (which will take place via Zoom) and the definition of a qualified voter. Schools will also send out at least one absentee ballot and postage-paid return envelope per household. If you do not receive an absentee ballot, contact 315-638-6055 or [email protected].
Schools must receive completed absentee ballots by 5 p.m. June 9. Voters can return their completed ballots by mail or drop them off at the school district (29 E. Oneida St., Baldwinsville, NY 13027).
View the full budget presentation at go.boarddocs.com/ny/bville/Board.nsf/Public.
