The following article,
written by Klaus Gaebel, is reprinted from The
Saugerties Post Star, 03-27-08 The school board was presented with a preliminary board
budget for the 2008-09 school year in the amount of
$52,759,229. The budget represents a $2.9 million spending
increase over the previous year, or 5.98%. According to Business Administrator Joseph Dziadik, based
on estimations using last year's property valuations and
anticipated aids, the tax rate would go up 8.8% over the
2007-08 school year. Actual property valuations and aid
formulas are not yet available. Dziadik attributed the anticipated expense increases to:
salaries - $1,845,515; utilities & fuel - $294,490;
employee benefits - $371,955; debt service - $335,395;
other - $129,440. Of the $1.845 million in salary increases, about $1.5
million is attributed to contractual increases and $336,287
for new positions. The new positions proposed are (1)
Custodian Jr/Sr High; (1) Math teacher Jr/Sr High; (2)
Special Ed teachers; (1) Elementary Teacher; (1/2) Residency
Officer; (9 ½) Teacher Aids for Special Ed. The board has not yet made changes to the initial budget.
Those opportunities are expected to begin at the special
March 26 Board of Education budget meeting. A finalized budget will be presented to voters on May
20th. Three Board of Education seats will also be on the
ballot.