MCS Starting Work on 2024-25 Budget

State Aid Up in Early Estimates

MIDDLEBURGH - It is still 2023, but Middleburgh Central School officials are already looking to 2025.

School business manager Robyn Bhend gave school board members last week a brief glimpse of the road for the 2024-25 budget.

She said she would give more of an overview on spending at the board's January 10 meeting, but gave out some early details Wednesday night.

She said that contract negotiations with all bargaining units have been settled, so instructional salaries are in place. The early outlook on health insurance and prescription costs show increases of 20 percent each, but the final costs will not be known until February. Superintendent Mark Place is hoping that the district comes in under 20 percent for next year.

Ms. Bhend said it is important to begin budget discussions soon because the board will only have budget workshops once a month starting in January. The January 10 meeting will feature details on a "rollover" budget with few changes from this year. In February, board members will review state aid projections, and March will feature a discussion about how much fund balance to use to lower taxes.

The budget has to be approved in April for a May public vote.

"It's going to happen quick," Ms. Bhend noted.

The first state run of aid figures from the governor should come out shortly after the New Year, she said.

Very early estimates, she added, show an increase of about $213,300 in state aid.

Board members, she added, have been very conservative in increasing the tax levy in the past with hikes from zero percent to 1.99 percent in the last four years. She also noted that revenue from interest is up because of hikes in bank interest rates.

Board members will have to make decisions on some programs, officials added.

Field trips require $40,000. The trips are more than just students going places, it includes events at the schools. In the spring, an astronomy demonstration is planned at the elementary school. A Shakespeare festival is planned at the secondary school in March

Field trips are very important, said two students attending the meeting.

Olivia Skowfoe and Quin Smith recently attended the FBLA conference in Dallas. Quin said field trips are informative, influential, very interesting and give students things to "remember for their whole life."

Olivia added that field trips give students the opportunity to branch out and see different cultures. She said the field trips were "so beneficial."

The district also has to make a decision about the after-school program at the elementary school, Mr. Place said.

The Schoharie River Center, through a grant, has been hosting a very successful program at the elementary school. About 80 children attend the three-hour program, which is in session even during school breaks,

The district, Mr. Place added, could seek additional funding or grants for STEM classes and more college-credit classes.