Residents of the Pine Plains Central School District will weigh in on the Board of Education’s proposed 2024-2025 budget on May 21. Voters will determine whether to authorize a 3.5 percent increase from last year, bringing the total budget to $37,689,744, along with a tax levy hike of 3.24 percent.
Dr. Brian Timm, the school superintendent, told the Herald that this year’s budget is fiscally sound, focusing on academic excellence, student experience, and community connection — the three cornerstones of the PPCSD Strategic Plan, unveiled in March 2023.
Speaking at Stanford Grange’s annual “Meet the BOE Candidates and Budget Forum” last week, Timm said that administrative and capital expenditures will decrease this year by 8.82 percent and 1.02 percent, respectively, with reallocated funds resulting in a 5.76 percent increase for student programming.
Timm read from the 2024-2025 Budget Newsletter, which was mailed to PPCSD residents on May 10. He told attendees that the district’s Community Connection Committee revamped this year’s newsletter to be in a more reader-friendly “storytelling format,” featuring descriptions of student accomplishments and photos interspersed with detailed fiscal information.
The new budget is the first of four propositions on this year’s school ballot. Proposition 2 seeks authorization for three new 65-passenger school buses at an estimated cost of $461,970. Proposition 3 permits the transfer of up to $2 million from 2023-2024 unassigned funds to establish a repair reserve fund. “It allows us to put money in a fund to prepare for any unexpected repairs,” Timm said. The fourth proposition approves the appointment of an ex officio student Board of Education member, a year-long, non-voting position. New York state mandates that this policy be approved by PPCSD residents every two years. Senior Sarah Griffin currently holds the ex officio spot.
Three school board members are up for election: incumbents Jean Stapf and Joseph Kiernan are seeking third three-year terms. Stanfordville resident Claire Copley-Eisenberg, a retired librarian and teacher, is running for the third seat, which is vacant.
District Clerk Julia Tomaine told the Herald that absentee and early voting is still available through Monday, May 20. “This is the first year early voting is being offered in our district,” she said. “The difference between the two options is that absentee voters must provide a reason why they can’t show up at the polls–like illness. That’s not needed for early voting.” Tomaine warned that ballots requests can no longer be mailed. “It’s too late for that,” she said. “The voter has to pick one up in my office at the high school no later than Monday.”
Voting will be held at the Stissing Mountain High School cafeteria on Tuesday, May 21, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tomaine can be reached Saturday by phone: she asked that any voter in need of a ballot leave a detailed voicemail message at (518) 398-7181 ext.1408.