The Pine Bush Central School District Board of Education adopted the 2024-2025 budget Thursday night, April 18, a $141,504,647 spending plan that maintains all existing academic, co-curricular and athletic opportunities for our students.

The budget details

The proposed tax levy will increase by 2.96 percent or $1.825 million, for a total of $63,387,542.

This budget is 4.33 percent more than the current year’s budget, an increase of $5.875 million. State aid increased 4.63 percent, providing just over $3.2 million in additional aid over the current year’s figure. The district will also use $3,086,040 in fund balance for this budget.

The tax levy is the amount of money raised by taxes. Fund balance is money that was previously collected by the district but not appropriated. The tax levy limit, set by the state, is 4.05 percent. The district’s tax levy is below the state limit.

 

What this means to homeowners

A homeowner in the district, with a home valued at $315,000, would pay approximately $138 more for the year in school taxes with this 2.96 percent change in the tax levy.

 

Providing for our students

The proposed budget continues to provide the strong academic programs we have built here at Pine Bush, all in a safe environment. The budget reallocates staff, including the addition of two school psychologists and one behavioral assistant, based on the needs of our students.

 

New polling sites in 2024

This year, there are two polling locations. Residents of the towns of Gardiner, Shawangunk, Crawford and Montgomery will vote at Pine Bush High School in the new district 1. Previously, these residents voted at the Pine Bush Fire House and the Walker Valley Fire House.

Residents of the towns of Mt. Hope, Wallkill and Mamakating are the new district 2 and will vote at Circleville Elementary School. Previously, these residents voted at the Bloomingburg Town Park at Mamakating and  the Circleville Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

The board decided to consolidate districts this year for several reasons. It has been difficult to fully staff four polling locations for the vote. Having two locations eliminates that challenge. Bringing the locations back to district buildings provides for the quality Wi-Fi that is needed for the new voter sign-in procedure. Security is present throughout the day and parking is plentiful.

If anyone has a question on their voting location, call the district office at 845-744-2031.