Voters approve budget, bus lease; elect board members

Fonda-Fultonville Central School District voters approved a $30,844,918 budget by a vote of 191 to 42, a margin of 82%. The spending plan for the 2021-22 school year continues all existing student programs and support services with a 3.34% year-to-year spending increase and a property tax levy at the district’s limit of 0.29%.

“Our Fonda-Fultonville community has always come together to support one another during challenging times, and our experience over the past year once again proves that,” said Superintendent of Schools Thomas Ciaccio. “As a school district we are grateful for the community’s continued support as we move forward to fill learning gaps, reinstate extracurricular programs, enhance academics and help students to heal the emotional scars resulting from the pandemic.”

Voters also approved by a vote of 203 to 30 a five-year lease for a 28-passenger bus and a 66-passenger bus at a cost not to exceed $157,000 total. Voter approval allows the district to continue to have three leased buses. The use of leased buses has generated significant savings for the district in areas that are not eligible for state aid, including the late bus run.

Three incumbents were elected to the board of education. Michelle Isabella (196 votes), Dennis Egelston (199 votes) and Domenic DiNatale (188 votes) will each serve a three-year term starting July 1.

In addition to the budget, voters also approved by a vote of 207-25 a proposition to allocate $38,058 to the Frothingham Free Library in Fonda. Under State Education Law, funding for the libraries is collected by the school district and then forwarded to the respective libraries.

Key Budget Points

  • FFCS will continue all existing student programs and support services in the 2021-22 budget.
  • The year-to-year spending increase amounts to 3.34%, or $997,207.
    The district is balancing the budget through a combination of fund balance, state aid and property taxes. The budget includes a tax levy increase of 0.29%, or $31,353. This is at the district’s state-calculated tax levy limit or “cap,” of 0.29%.
  • Federal stimulus money is not included in the 2021-22 spending plan. Stimulus funds will not be used for ongoing costs (see more information below).
  • The district will use approximately $1 million in fund balance to balance the budget.