Liberty CSD voters approve $68M school budget proposal

On Tuesday, May 21, voters in the Liberty Central School District approved, 987-69, the district’s $68 million budget proposal for the 2024-25 school year.

“We appreciate Liberty Central School District residents’ continued support and recognition of our efforts to give our students the education they need to pursue their potential and thrive in the future,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are also glad we could do this without increasing the tax levy for the sixth year in a row.”

The $68,034,294 budget funds all current student programs and services, while keeping the tax levy the same as the current year. The budget includes several program expansions that support the district’s five-year strategic plan, including expanding the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) math curriculum to seventh grade, adding Syracuse University Project Advance college credit courses, as well as introducing more computer science and AI-related programs across grades.

The budget also includes the addition of a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)-certified teacher, creating an administrative athletic director position, and converting two part-time teacher aide positions into one full time teacher aid. An update to the middle school library’s innovation lab is also included

Voters also re-elected three board of education members to three-year terms on the board. Maureen Crescitelli received 605 votes, Peter Racette received 591 and Pamela Teed Fisk, 595. Three write-in candidates, Miriam Singer, Miriam Breuer and Miriam Heimlich, each received more than 400 votes, with several others receiving one vote each.

Original story:

Annual school budget vote is May 21

On Tuesday, May 21, Liberty Central School District residents will vote on a $68 million budget proposal for the 2024-25 school year that enhances curriculum and improves programs without increasing the tax levy.

This is the sixth consecutive year there is no proposed tax levy increase.

“This budget proposal continues our commitment to fiscal responsibility while providing the increased programming and support our students need to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.

Because the district anticipates receiving an increase of approximately $1,684,932 in state aid funding, which is an approximate 3.60% increase from the previous year, the district is able to put forth a proposal with a tax levy of $17,760,162, the same as the current year’s budget.

The proposed $68,034,294 budget increases spending 2.62%, or $1,737,932, and would fund all current student programs and services.

Several program expansions proposed in the 2024-25 budget would support the curriculum pillar of the district’s five-year strategic plan, including expanding the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) math curriculum to seventh grade, adding Syracuse University Project Advance college credit courses, as well as introducing more computer science and AI-related programs across grades.

The proposal also includes the addition of a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)-certified teacher, creating an administrative athletic director position, and converting two part-time teacher aide positions into one full-time teacher aide. An update to the middle school library’s innovation lab is also in the proposal.

“This budget proposal keeps us focused on our strategic plan so that we can continue
to prepare our students for a successful future,” Sullivan said.

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Snapshot

• Total Budget: $68,034,294
• Proposed Budget Change: $1,737,932 (+2.62%)
• Proposed School Tax Levy: $17,760,162
• School Tax Levy Change: $0

REVENUES

• Tax Levy: $17,760,162 (0%)  — 26.1% of revenue
• State Aid: $48,484,932 (+3.6%) — 71.3% of revenue
• Fund Balance: 0
• Reserves: 0
• Other: $1,789,200 (+3.05%) — 2.6% of revenue
• Total: $68,034,294 (+2.62%)

EXPENDITURES

• General Support: $6,079,904 (-32.41%) —  8.9% of expenditures
• Instruction: $35,555,798 (+13.27%) —  52.3% of expenditures
• Pupil Transportation: $7,134,315 (-2,56%) — 10.5% of expenditures
• Employee Benefits: $15,920,877 (+4.03%) — 23.4% of expenditures
• Debt Service: $2,888,400 (-1,19%) — 4.2% of expenditures
• Interfund Transfers: $455,000 (+26.39%) — .7 % of expenditures
• Total: $68,034,294 (+2.62%)

COMPONENTS

• Administrative Component: $7,370,342 (+8.87%) — 10.83% of budget
  • Includes salaries and benefits of administrators, supervisors, and administrative clerical staff, public information, printing, curriculum and staff development, school board costs, general insurance and professional fees.
• Program Component: $7,959,861 (+1.41%) — 77.47% of budget
  • Includes salaries and benefits of all teachers and staff who deliver pupil services (guidance, health, library/media, etc.), textbooks, co-curricular activities, athletics, and transportation costs.
• Capital Component: $52,704,091 (+1.99%) — 11.70% of budget
  • Includes salaries and benefits of maintenance and custodial staff, debt service on buildings, utilities, equipment, and  court-ordered costs.

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School Board

Liberty Central School District has a nine-person Board of Education. All seats are at-large, with three seats up for election each year. Each member serves a three-year term.

Those who wish to run for school board must be: able to read and write; a citizen of the United States; at least 18 years of age; a qualified voter of the district; and a resident of the school district for at least one year prior to election  No employee of the school district may be a member of the board, except as permitted by law, and no more than one member of a family shall be a member of the same Board of Education.

Prospective board members should contact District Clerk Tania DeFrank at tdefrank@LibertyK12.org or 845-292-6990 for a nomination packet and petition. Completed forms, including a petition with at least 25 valid signatures of qualified district voters, must be return to the district office no later than 5 p.m. April 22.

Seats currently held by Peter Racette, Maureen Crescitelli and Pamela Teed Fisk are up for election this year.

The candidates, in the order they appear on the ballot, are: Maureen Crescitelli, Peter Racette and Pamela Teed Fisk. The elected candidates will  serve three-year terms running July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.

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Voting information

Voters must be 18 years old,  a U.S. citizen and a district resident for at least 30 days and be registered to vote at their county board of elections, which will automatically register them to vote at the district. The last day to register with the district is May 16.

Along with traditional absentee balloting, which requires a reason for voting early, New York State allows for early voting via mail without requiring justification. Voters must fill out an application for either form. There are separate applications for each, but the application process and deadlines are the same for both.

Qualified voters may request an early voting or absentee ballot application by contacting District Clerk Tania DeFrank at tdefrank@LibertyK12.org or 845-292-6990. May 14 is the last day for absentee/early ballot applications to be received for those who will be mailed a ballot. May 20 is the last day for absentee/early ballot applications to be received in person and the ballot delivered by hand.  Absentee/early voting ballots must be received by the District Clerk by 5 p.m. May 21 in order to be counted.

Military voters who are qualified voters of the district may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the district clerk and the valid application must be received no later than 5 p.m. April 25.  Military voters who are not registered to vote may apply to register by filling out a Military Voter Registration Application, which can also be obtained by requesting an application from the district clerk and completed applications must be received by the clerk by 5 p.m. April 25. Military voters may indicate a preference for receiving a military voter registration, military ballot application, or military ballot by mail, fax or email in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. The school district will transmit military ballots to military voters no later than April 26. Completed military ballots must be received by the district by 5 p.m. May 21 to be counted.