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| Lewis County School Districts to Hold Budget Votes and School Board Elections May 21 May 13, 2019 12:45 p.m. |
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May 21, 2019, as local school districts hold annual budget votes and Board of Education elections. Polls will be open from 12:00 – 8:00 PM in Copenhagen, Lowville, and South Lewis, while in Beaver River and Harrisville voting will take place between 1:00- 8:00 PM. A breakdown for each district is included below.
$17,527,730 budget, a $667,604 (3.96%) increase over last year’s $16,860,126 budget. District voters will see a tax levy increase of 1.03% over last year’s rate, which is within the tax cap mandate. Factors that influence this year's increase are the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Capital Project, as well as increases in regular operating costs, including salaries, benefits, etc. There is a bus proposition on the ballot asking voter approval for the purchase of three new vehicles at an estimated cost not to exceed $303,128. There are two board seats up for election. David Meyer and Jonathan Beller are running for a five-year term on the board for one seat, while Christine Lashbrooks and Stacy Greud are running for a five-year term on the board fir a second seat. A budget hearing will be held May 13, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the BRCS auditorium. See Beaver River's Sample Ballot Here COPENHAGEN: Voters in the Copenhagen district will be voting on a $10,996,686 budget, a $521,281 (4.98%) increase over last year’s $10,475,405 budget. District voters will see a tax levy decrease of $17,536, or a minus 1%. The district chose to pay for the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Capital Project in cash, rather than bonding, to save a substantial amount of money in legal and interest costs. The cost will be spread over a two year period, $204,066 of which is appropriated for this year, which is why the 4.98% increase in spending appears higher than previous years. The district is in a unique situation this year as a result of the first windmill PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payment, which is due to the district in January of 2020. This payment is one of the inclusions that contributes to a minus 19.41% tax levy limit. By overriding the tax cap, but still lowering taxes by 1%, the district will be able to stabilize the tax levy limit. This vote will require a 60 percent super majority approval from voters. Karen Freeman and Keith Lee are running unopposed to fill the two five-year terms on the Board of Education. See Copenhagen's Sample Ballot Here HARRISVILLE: Voters in the Harrisville district will be voting on a $11,053188 budget, a $302,421 increase over last year’s $10,750,767 budget. A bus proposition vote seeking to purchase two 60 passenger school buses at a cost not to exceed $220,000 will appear on the ballot. A vote to authorize the Board of Education to levy and collect an annual tax year after year, separate and apart from the annual school district budget, in the amount of $5,000 (in addition to the current annual appropriation of $55,000, for a total of $60,000), which shall be paid to Harrisville Free Library for the support and maintenance of the library, will also appear on the ballot. Kathy Felio is running unopposed for a two-year term on the Board of Education. There will be an annual public hearing, Monday, May 13, 2019, at 5:30 PM, in the Harrisville Central School auditorium. See Harrisville's Sample Ballot Here LOWVILLE: Voters in the Lowville district will be voting on a $28,954,739 budget, a $1,300,783 (4.7%) increase over last year’s $27,653,956 budget. The majority of the increase is for the district’s required contribution for the Jefferson- Lewis BOCES Capital Project, approved by voters last fall. District voters will see a $200,000 (4.99%) increase in the tax levy for 2019-2020, well below the allowable tax cap calculation for the district. In 2019-2020 an increase to $7.29 per $1,000 of assessed value is anticipated. The following propositions are on the ballot: Proposition #1: The Board of Education of the Lowville Central School district is authorized to expend the sums set forth in their proposed budget for 2019-2020 in the total amount of $28,954,739, and to levy the necessary tax therefore. Proposition #2: The Board of Education of the Lowville Central School district is hereby authorized to purchase three school buses and to expend therefore a gross sum not exceeding $360,000 and that the aforesaid sum of $360,000 or as much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by tax on taxable property of this district to be collected in one installment and included in the 2020-2021 school budget. Proposition #3: The Board of Education of the Lowville Central School district is hereby authorized to provide transportation for Head Start pupils on regularly scheduled bus routes during the 2019-2020 school year. Proposition #4: The Board of Education of the Lowville Central School district is hereby authorized to levy and collect an annual tax, year after year, separate and apart from the annual school district budget, in the amount of $15,000 (above the current annual appropriation of $100,000 for a total of $115,000 annually), which shall be paid to the Lowville Free Library (additional $10,000 for a total of $80,000) and the William H. Bush Memorial Library (additional $5,000 for a total of $35,000) for the support and maintenance of the libraries; with this appropriated amount to be the annual appropriation until thereafter modified by a future vote of the electors of the Lowville Central School district. James Farquhar and Stephanie Houser Fouse are running unopposed for a second term on the Board of Education. Amy Marti is running unopposed to fill the seat vacated by Paul Kelly. A budget hearing will be held Monday, May 13, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the Elementary School cafeteria. See Lowville's Sample Ballot Here SOUTH LEWIS: Voters in the South Lewis district will be voting on a $26,261,305 budget, a $701,312 increase over last year’s $25,559,993 budget. This budget will have a 1.75% tax levy increase, which is below the tax cap mandate. The following propositions are on the ballot: Proposition #1: The Board of Education of the South Lewis Central School be authorized to levy the necessary tax for and appropriate a sum not to exceed $26,261,305 for the purpose of the General Fund Budget, for the 2019-2020 school year. Proposition #2: The Board of Education of the South Lewis Central School district is hereby authorized to purchase three, 66-passenger buses for a total maximum aggregate cost not to exceed $317,250, and that the sum of $317,260 or as much thereof as may be necessary shall be raised by the levy of tax upon the taxable property of said school district and collected. Christine Chaufty and Justin Szucs are running unopposed for five-year terms on the Board of Education. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 6:30 PM at the Middle-High School Board of Education room, See South Lewis' Sample Ballot Here |
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