Onteora Central School District board outlines $63.6M budget and $70.5M bond ahead of May 20 vote

The Onteora Central School District Board of Education on May 6 received the final presentation on the proposed 2025–26 budget and a separate capital-project bond that will appear on the district ballot May 20.

Miss LeClaire, who presented the budget package, said the district’s 2024–25 budget totaled $62,325,500 and that the draft 2025–26 budget is approximately in the $63.56–63.59 million range. "We are proposing a 2 percent increase for 2526," she said, adding the levy proposal is below the allowable tax-levy limit. The presenter said the administration plans to use a little over $2.5 million in fund balance to reduce the tax levy.

Why it matters: The proposal would raise the levy by about 2 percent while preserving funding for classroom programs, summer learning and mental-health supports. The package also includes a ballot proposition for a $70,500,000 capital project that the administration says will be largely tax-neutral because consolidation and other savings plus state building aid will offset debt service.

Budget details and contingency rules Miss LeClaire told the board the district is proposing a levy increase of 2 percent (proposed levy roughly $49.4 million versus $48.4 million in 2024–25). She outlined typical budget components—instruction and employee benefits as the largest shares—and said the district intends to continue funding technology replacement, active learning spaces, multi‑tiered supports, reading and math training, and summer skills programming. The presentation listed approximately $225,000 budgeted for equipment.

The presenter described contingency rules if voters reject the budget: the board could resubmit the same or a different budget for a June 17 revote; if defeated again, the district must adopt a contingency budget that would disallow tax increases above the prior year and would require identifying roughly $968,000 in reductions to meet the contingency cap.

Ballot propositions and projected aid Miss LeClaire outlined two propositions. Ballot Proposition 1 sets the overall expenditure amount voters would authorize for the district budget; Proposition 2 would authorize a capital project estimated at $70,500,000 with an anticipated borrowing need (the presenter cited bonding of up to $55,500,000). She said the project would generate building-aid revenue the district estimates at about $1.3 million annually because the aid is expense‑driven and tied to project costs. In response to a question about that number, she said the $1.3 million figure comes from state building aid calculations tied to the project scope.

Public logistics and next steps The board clerk and presenter confirmed voting will take place May 20 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Bennett and Woodstock schools, with early mail and absentee options available; registered voters may vote at either location. If the board needs a second vote, that would occur June 17. The board closed the public hearing after hearing no further comments.

A note on packet figures: the presenter used two close, differing totals when stating the proposed budget (the packet and the oral presentation list figures in the $63.56–63.59M range). The administration indicated those are clerical inconsistencies in presentation materials; residents seeking precise line‑item numbers were directed to the district’s budget documents and the mailed budget newsletter.

What’s next: The budget and Proposition 2 (the capital bond) will be on the May 20 ballot. The district will continue community outreach through a budget newsletter, a planned informational video, and staffed sessions for faculty and residents in the days before the vote.