Keystone Central board approves final general fund budget over taxpayer-cut objections

The Keystone Central School District board of directors approved the district's final general fund budget on May 8 after a 5-4 roll-call vote.

Board members who opposed the measure said the district had not done enough to trim spending and that the budget risked forcing future tax increases. Board members who supported the budget said it reflected necessary operating needs and that ongoing departmental review processes could be strengthened later.

The debate concentrated on whether the board should require more frequent, line-by-line budget reviews with administration. Board member Chris (referred to in the transcript by first name) urged the board to review a different section of the budget each month with administration to identify cuts and limit tax pressure. Miss Donahue and others said monthly engagement with administration on departmental spending would be useful; Miss Lynch and Doctor Baldino opposed the budget as presented.

Supporters of the budget said the district has operational needs that must be met and that some spending is tied to legally required programs, including special education. The motion to adopt the final general fund budget passed with five yes votes and four no votes. The roll-call recorded the following responses: Miss Smith, Miss Donahue, Mister Elling, Mister Johnson and Mister Knopp voted yes; Doctor Baldino, Mister Cannon, Miss Lynch and Mister Scapp voted no.

The board did not adopt additional, binding directions to administration at the meeting beyond the budget approval. Several directors asked administration to present more granular, periodic reviews going forward so the board could evaluate departmental expenditures in detail.

The budget approval is a formal step toward adoption of the district's spending plan for the coming fiscal year; the transcript did not specify the total dollar amount or any planned tax rate changes.