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Budget Information

M-W residents approve 2019-20 budget, school vehicle purchase proposition and elect three board members

Residents of Monroe-Woodbury voted to approve the two propositions on the ballot May 21, including the $181.3 million budget for the 2019-2020 school year.

By a vote of 1,139 to 462, residents approved a $181,276,309 budget for 2019-2020 school year. This budget, which represents a spending increase of $4,683,172 or 2.65 percent, results in a tax levy increase of 2.57 percent, which is just under the tax cap. The budget maintains all current programs, staff and services, adds additional teaching positions and enhances the district’s safety initiatives with the addition of School Resource Officers in each school building and upgrades to classroom door lock systems.

District residents also approved a proposition that will allow Monroe-Woodbury CSD to purchase 11 new school vehicles with a vote of 1,116 to 488. More than 60 percent of the cost of the vehicles is covered by state aid.

In addition, residents voted to fill three seats on the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education. Three incumbents were re-elected: Staci McCleary with 1,124 votes; Suzanne Donahue with 957 votes; and Lorraine Carroll with 908 votes. Jeffery Reynolds received 614 votes and Kiesha Tillman received 418 votes.

Voters to decide on $181.3 million proposed budget, board elections, school vehicle purchase on May 21

At a special meeting on April 25, the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education adopted a $181,276,309 proposed budget for the 2019-2020 school year. This budget, which represents a spending increase of $4,683,172 or 2.65 percent, will result in a tax levy increase of 2.57 percent – an amount that is just under the district’s legal limit as defined by New York’s tax levy cap legislation. The annual budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 21. Please visit the district’s budget page for general information about budget creation and voting. A budget brochure was mailed to all M-W residents.

What does the budget include?

Additional Staffing

1 Spanish teacher
1 ENL (English as a New Language) teacher
Bilingual psychologist
Behaviorist

Safety Enhancements

School Resource Officers (SROs) in ALL buildings
Upgrades to classroom door lock systems

School Vehicles’ Purchase

11 vehicles – Total cost of $1,072,235. More than 60 percent of the cost will be covered by state aid.
- Six, 72-passenger buses
- Five, 30-passenger vans

Residents will also elect three members to the Board of Education to fill the seats of Lorraine Carroll, Suzanne Donahue and Staci McCleary, whose terms expire at the end of the school year. The three candidates who receive the most votes will be appointed and sworn in at the organizational board meeting in July. Their terms will commence on July 1, 2019 and expire on June 30, 2022.

The candidates are (listed in ballot order):

Kiesha Tillman
Suzanne Donahue (incumbent)
Staci McCleary (incumbent)
Lorraine Carroll (incumbent)
Jeffery Reynolds

Board of Education adopts proposed budget for 2019-2020 school year

At a special meeting on April 25, the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education adopted a $181,276,309 proposed budget for the 2019-2020 school year. This budget, which represents a spending increase of $4,683,172 or 2.65 percent, will result in a tax levy increase of 2.57 percent – an amount that is just under the district’s legal limit as defined by New York’s tax levy cap legislation. The proposed budget allows Monroe-Woodbury to enhance curriculum opportunities for students, as well as the addition of a Spanish teacher, ENL teacher, bilingual psychologist and a behaviorist. The proposed budget also includes School Resource Officers (SROs) in all buildings and upgrades to classroom door lock systems.

The proposed tax levy – $122,878,000 – is less than the allotted maximum allowable levy for 2019-2020. This means that a simple majority of voters (more than 50 percent) is needed to pass the budget. A public hearing regarding the proposed budget will be held in the Education Center on Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m.

In addition to the proposed budget, district residents will also vote to authorize the purchase of 11 new school vehicles, specifically six 72-passenger buses and five 30-passenger vans, at a cost of $1,072,235. More than 60 percent of the cost of the vehicles will be covered by state aid and the district will be reimbursed over five years.

The candidates are (listed in ballot order):

Kiesha Tillman
Suzanne Donahue (incumbent)
Staci McCleary (incumbent)
Lorraine Carroll (incumbent)
Jeffery Reynolds

The annual budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 21. Please visit the district’s budget page for general information about budget creation and voting. A budget brochure with information related to the proposed budget will be mailed to district residents in early May.

A Crusader Chat, or community conversation, will be held on Monday, May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Education Center, 278 Route 32, Central Valley. All district residents are invited to this discussion regarding the proposed budget. The Crusader Chat will be aired via Facebook Live for those residents who are unable to attend. Please email budget-related questions to communications@mw.k12.ny.us or contact the business office at 845-460-6200.

2019-2020 budget overview

2019-20 proposed budget: $181,276,309

Spending increase: $4,683,172 or 2.65%

Tax Levy Increase: 2.57%*
*The tax levy increase is just below the district’s legal limit as defined by New York’s tax levy cap legislation.

For additional information, the 2019-2020 Budget Statement contains details of the proposed budget.

Budget Vote Day details

Monroe-Woodbury Central School District voters will cast ballots on the proposed school budget and school board candidates on the third Tuesday of May at Central Valley Elementary School, 45 Route 32, Central Valley. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Voter eligibility

You are eligible to vote if you are a United States citizen, 18 years or older, and a resident of the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District for at least 30 days prior to the annual vote date.

If you are registered to vote in general elections, you are automatically eligible to vote in school elections. If you are not registered, you can obtain a registration form in the office of the district clerk, at any school building or download a New York State voter registration form.

Special Voter Registration

Special voter registration will be held at the Education Center at 278 Route 32, Central Valley. Days TBA in 2020.

Absentee ballots

Absentee ballots are available to registered residents who are unable to vote in person for reasons of illness or disability or who will be out of town on the date of the vote. Applications for absentee ballots are available from the District Clerk by calling (845)460-6200 ext. 6203 or by downloading the Application for Absentee Ballot.

Building a school budget for the future

Developing the annual budget is a year-round process. On the third Tuesday of each May, that process culminates when residents go to the polls to vote on a school budget proposal for the following year and to elect Board of Education members.

Read more about creating a school budget.

Budget fact sheets (in PDF format)

Three Tax Levy Numbers
Tax Levy “Cap” formula
School mandates and mandate relief in New York State
Today’s contingent budgets
Public employee pensions in New York State
Smart Schools Bond Act
General advocacy toolkit

Budget videos

NYS Voter Turnout
Tax Levy “Cap” explained
New York Public Schools: The Right Investment