[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6100476,"mediaKeyId","2813414-859e71407ec8c14b779362432a697087","parentId",2813414,"title","Board reviews 3-part budget, tax-levy proposal and safety capital project; district proposes smaller EV vans and added summer programming","audioSeconds",2396,"startMs",2611985,"endMs",5008510,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813414-859e71407ec8c14b779362432a697087&start=2611&end=5008","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813414-859e71407ec8c14b779362432a697087/thumbnail_2611985.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100476/New-York/Board-reviews-3-part-budget-tax-levy-proposal-and-safety-capital-project-district-proposes-smaller-EV-vans-and-added-summer-programming","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100476-712795a03b5955f65d26f1e23d7b1a3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770777296&Signature=eJVfdpWNFKk9qfcqKtdV8tmMKjJ8nUYrRC0tP3xiT6iIzGB27zMygHOQwgsWHimSMcE5eZ4A68dlbvhjXf1ER~mDd1M~T4UH1upSRiNPYKyp0Mk76KHXg-x2omnmHOk-cg2xoHr3jQP~WpaJwnVPYyF9Wcp8Q-DGmOsHf0-PA~cCsXS34~BsYpJkx-6FKNwZj1oS5ZKXF8OcsVwWYsnjVrPkNHxMqGtwVtpaDIy2NCcQR92HhvloVJZoMM~h36wrOA1kYWEjGHOAwJtevc6lFAHIcbQdI9VEt2cP~32JtHQiacQRMV63RWTHl-qrJITRE8OtQAgHdZ5X2Dk-7-5S1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-29T00:50:27.593Z","article","The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District board held a budget workshop where district staff presented a three-part budget proposal, recommended a 3.56% tax-levy increase and described a safety-focused capital proposition and vehicle purchases that will appear on the budget vote.

Business/staff presenter Jesse summarized key figures and drivers in the proposed budget. He described a multi-million-dollar spending plan that he characterized in the meeting as a district proposal and said the change year-over-year is about a $2.3 million increase (presenter cited the total budget figure in meeting materials). “This year we're going to be proposing a $56,056,900 budget. It is a $2,300,000 increase,” Jesse said during the presentation (transcript wording provided by staff presentation; exact formatting in slides may differ).

Jesse identified the major budget drivers: contract obligations (salary increases negotiated in collective bargaining), health-benefit cost increases (including a cited pharmaceutical-premium rise and about a 9.5% increase in health premiums for the consortium), increases in employer retirement contributions (ERS at 16.5% projected) and higher debt service tied to capital projects and bus purchases. He said program (instructional) spending represents roughly 77% of the budget and that local revenue is expected to provide about 51% of revenue while state aid is roughly 39%.

Jesse recommended the board adopt the full tax-levy limit of 3.56% for the next fiscal year, describing how that choice affects future levy calculations if a large pilot revenue enters the tax rolls next year. “Tonight I am going to recommend that we go at the full cap at 3.56% which will be a little bit over $1,000,000 increase up to $29,000,000,” he said. Staff explained that going to the cap this year dampens a potential negative tax-levy calculation next year when a large pilot (newly assessed value) comes on board.

Staff proposed using approximately $750,000 from the district's capital reserve to cover upfront costs for a safety capital project that will also be included on the upcoming vote; the total project estimate discussed in the presentation was slightly over $2 million. The safety project budget items listed in the presentation included window-film hardening for vestibules, electrification and replacement of selected door hardware, panic/lockdown push buttons and “door-prop” alarms that detect doors left open, additional cabling to modernize PA/AV systems and visual alerting devices in commons and large spaces. Jesse described contingency and design fees (architect and construction contingency estimates) in the capital estimate and said most items are contract-based and would not require additional public bidding.

Board members asked clarifying operational questions: whether panic buttons or door alarms would notify police dispatch (staff said the installed panic buttons would lock down buildings on-premises and that door-prop notifications could be routed to SROs or other recipients), which doors and buildings would be covered (staff said a majority of doors across the district but agreed to provide a follow-up list), and how exterior visual alerts would be positioned so Becker campus visitors would see them when approaching the building from the long driveway.

Jesse also presented planned vehicle procurements: three smaller “micro” buses or passenger vans (including a 10-passenger EV vehicle) to replace larger, underfilled runs and reduce operating/maintenance costs. He noted there are ongoing grant opportunities that could offset EV purchases and that manufacturers currently report long lead times (one salesperson told staff of a roughly 10-month wait).

On program changes, staff proposed expanding summer-school offerings and noted an approximate $150,000 increase to restore elementary summer programming; replicating the prior Discovery Camp model across all grades would cost more (staff estimated roughly $200,000 for elementary only and around $300,000 total for all age groups in earlier discussions).

Finance discussion included fund-balance projections. Jesse said the presentation reduces planned use of fund balance from prior years (proposal uses $2.3 million of fund balance rather than previously larger draws) and that the five-year projection shows downward pressure on reserve levels if current revenue and cost trends continue. Board members raised concern about that trajectory and urged working to align recurring revenues and expenses.

Next steps identified in the meeting: the board will vote to adopt the proposed budget (three-part budget) and the 3.56% tax-levy limit at the next business meeting; staff will provide follow-up details on door coverage for the capital project, timing and procurement options for EV vehicles, and more granular cost breakout for the safety package prior to the public vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 26, 2025 Budget Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","District staff presented a three-part budget proposal and recommended adopting the full 3.56% tax-levy cap; staff also outlined a safety capital project estimated at just over $2 million and plans to purchase smaller EV-capable passenger vehicles.","taxTitle","RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",69141,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6100481,"State Senator Pat Fahey briefs Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk board on budget, cell-phone policy, universal meals and school transportation",2475,82471,2557615,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813414-859e71407ec8c14b779362432a697087&start=82&end=2557","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813414-859e71407ec8c14b779362432a697087/thumbnail_82471.jpg","/articles/6100481/New-York/State-Senator-Pat-Fahey-briefs-Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk-board-on-budget-cell-phone-policy-universal-meals-and-school-transportation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100481-da3d664e8e2891a8c71d680d85347be7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770777296&Signature=Gfhb-4wibXmXvdjnHHgDSiJRQb5zr5u3XvYYSUMfih1TbAaou0opoXjcteHjgI4dFIMnVaJ3wPyxg3HpPJybQ-nbq3hW4lGgr0njqQ3sjLlQbbflZOiPB1ydV0ntwq2P6hAY4Yj192~QtztWq-zTHilRLqKK66xreMZVHjkcseivHOnL1s8J6r6JP4ICpSkhUWgzI3ZxDEq-PDe7wRa1~bssn-4CP0wMnAYvFUl3wDmyhwJN~b2y3BNa3lbmOjxGVVPDuQzM3fNIIWkl-toZQ7IkC55A-80jkZBwgVNLzz4FXAJyN1IqbTss-e30yjOWVfiOSPoaRSm8VsG-9matvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Pat Fahey told the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District Board of Education that the state budget process is still fluid and that districts face “serious headwinds” from possible federal cuts and policy changes.

Fahey said the governor’s executive proposal includes increases for schools but cautioned that every comma in the budget must be reconciled between the governor, Senate and Assembly. “There is an increase,” she said, noting that most districts will see modest percentage gains but that uncertainties — including proposed federal cuts — cloud the outlook.

Fahey framed why the update matters: she said local school funding decisions and planning depend on whether the state and federal funding levels hold. She urged school boards to track proposed changes and to share local stories about the effects of state and federal actions.

During roughly 40 minutes of remarks and Q&A, Fahey walked through several education-policy topics likely to affect the district. On the proposed state cell-phone policy, she said negotiators are working so punishments do not “knock kids out of school,” and that the Senate and Assembly have modified the executive proposal to avoid suspensions for routine phone use. “My understanding is it’s the out-of-school suspensions,” Fahey said, adding that she has not yet seen final language and will review red-flag and social-media exceptions.

Fahey also urged support for universal free school meals while warning about federal-level funding pressure. She said the state proposal includes a roughly $340 million allocation for universal lunch and breakfast, and she described worries that USDA and other federal actions could force the state to revisit that program later in the year. “We are facing some serious headwinds,” she said, and noted the administration has signaled the budget may need adjustment in September.

On transportation and electric-bus timelines, Fahey said legislators are advocating for flexibility: many districts face multi-year transitions to zero-emission buses and need time to adapt infrastructure and procurement. “Two years is reasonable for starters,” she said, adding that NYSERDA has offered workshops to districts.

Fahey also discussed prekindergarten reimbursement disparities (noting that some early adopters receive different rates), an increase proposed for high-school dual-enrollment and early-college programs, and attention to BOCES salary-cap relief included in one-house versions of the budget. She raised concerns about proposed changes to Regents exams being considered by the Board of Regents and a Blue Ribbon Commission, and asked board members to send feedback about the accountability and readiness implications of any changes.

Board members asked questions about specific items, including whether the cell-phone language would prohibit suspensions and how universal-meal funding might be affected by federal cuts; Fahey repeatedly emphasized she had not yet seen final budget text and that some provisions were still under negotiation. She encouraged local boards and teachers to share stories about how programs such as universal meals and community-school supports affect students and local farms.

Fahey closed by offering her office as a resource and noting she represents parts of Albany, Schenectady and all of Montgomery County; she said she will continue to update districts as budget negotiations proceed.","Senator Pat Fahey addressed the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District Board of Education about the state budget outlook, the proposed statewide cell-phone ban in schools, universal free school meals, EV bus timelines and concerns about Regents-exam changes.","actionData","errors"]

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Board reviews 3-part budget, tax-levy proposal and safety capital project; district proposes smaller EV vans and added summer programming

State Senator Pat Fahey briefs Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk board on budget, cell-phone policy, universal meals and school transportation