2020-21 School Budget Vote & Board Election Vote Tallied June 16

The District can no longer accept ballots delivered by hand for the June 9, 2020 Budget Vote and Board Election. The District may accept ballots by mail through 5:00 p.m. June 16, 2020, per executive order by Governor Cuomo.

Updated June 8, 2020 – The Governor has issued an Executive Order extending the deadline for school districts to receive absentee ballots by mail. According to Executive Order 202.39, school districts can accept absentee ballots by hand delivery through 5:00 p.m. on June 9, 2020 and by mail through June 16, 2020. Any receptacle used for hand delivery of absentee ballots in such election shall be closed and removed at 5 p.m. on June 9, 2020; the ballots therein shall remain unopened pending delivery of mailed ballots, and will be counted with all ballots after 5 p.m. on June 16, 2020. Counting of the ballots will be live streamed Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Additional details will be forthcoming.

The Catskill Board of Education has adopted a proposed $42,881,212 budget for the 2020-21 school year. The proposed budget is up a total of $240,283, a 0.53 percent increase from the current year’s budget. This increase is due to staffing adjustments, instructional equipment purchases for technology, and anticipated debt service for the capital project. The budget carries a tax levy increase of 3.63 percent, which stays within the limit set by NY State’s property tax cap.

“Due to the current state of the economy during these uncertain times, the budget recommendations are ultra-conservative,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ronel Cook. “We are able to maintain the quality of our instructional programs, but also address the social-emotional needs of all students. It is prudent to remain fiscally responsible as a District and empathetic to our taxpayers. This budget contains no cuts to programs, improves opportunities for students, and offers taxpayers a spending plan that keeps taxes at the tax cap.”

Voters will also be asked to elect three candidates to the Board of Education. Running for the Board this year are Zebulun Haggerty, Deborah Johnson, and Ryan Osswald.

The School Budget Vote and Board Election is scheduled for June 9 with voting by absentee ballot only, per an executive order by Governor Cuomo. More information is available on our Budget Information page and our 2020 Board Election page…

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