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Budget & Taxpayer Information

Residents approve 2021-22 budget and propositions, reelect two school board members to new terms

Greater Amsterdam School District residents voted 322-129 (71%) today (May 18) to approve a $79,310,619 proposed budget for the 2021-22 school year which includes no increase in the district tax levy while maintaining the same level of educational programming.

Next year’s spending plan totals $79,310,619 and represents an increase of 4.47 percent or $3,391,701 over the current year budget. The budget, however, calls for no tax levy increase in 2021-22.

Other vote results from the  May 18 ballot

  • Residents also voted 344-109 (76%) to approve a proposition establishing a Capital Reserve Fund with the ultimate amount of such fund to be $5 million for future capital project expenditures. This fund would allow the district to set aside money over a time period not to exceed 10 years, much like a savings account, from the district’s current unreserved fund balance (funds remaining at the end of the budget cycles). The district has earmarked some of these funds to improve indoor air quality & ventilation systems in schools, including mechanical and non-mechanical heating, ventilation, filtering systems, amongst a list of other upgrades, improvements & reconstruction work needed.
  • As part of the budget passage, residents also voted to allocate $135,000 in capital improvement funds to make security upgrades to McNulty Academy.
  • Voters reelected incumbents Gavin Murdoch (365 votes) and Curtis Peninger (314 votes) to the  Board  of Education. Both men ran unopposed for new seats each carrying new three-year term beginning July 1, 2021.

Current School Year Budget: 2020-21 GASD budget and propositions approved, three re-elected to school board on June 9, 2020

GASD residents have approved a $75,918,919 district budget for the 2020-21 school year by a vote of 2,023-842. Three other propositions also passed. The vote was held June 9, 2020 by absentee ballot ONLY due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three candidates, Dr. Nellie Bush, Rev. Kent McHeard and Deana Mancini (all incumbents) were also re-elected to new three-year terms on the GASD Board of Education beginning on July 1, 2020. The final vote was as follows:

  • Dr. Nellie Bush – 1,984 votes (Elected)
  • Rev. Kent McHeard – 1,730 votes (Elected)
  • Deana Mancini – 1,554 votes (Elected)
  • James P. Walrath – 961 votes (Not elected)
  • Thomas J. Coughlin, Jr. – 873 votes (Not elected)

District voters also approved three other propositions that appeared on the June, 2020 ballot.

Proposition No. 2  sought voter approval allowing for the purchase of two school buses and security cameras at an estimated cost of $225,000, with 90 percent of the cost eligible for state aid reimbursement. The bus proposition passed by a vote of 1,964-887.

Proposition No. 3 asked voters to enable personal registration of voters for school district elections and votes to occur on any school business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the District Clerk’s office and during any registration dates designed by the school board prior to the annual election and vote or any special vote, effective July 1, 2020. No person, however, would be permitted to register to vote in a school district election or vote less than five days preceding each election or vote. The personal registration proposition passed by a vote of 2,176-640.

Proposition No. 4 asked voters to approve the authorization of the GASD to levy taxes in the amount of $240,000 to support the Amsterdam Free Library for library services during the 2020-21 fiscal year and each year thereafter. The  library proposition passed by a vote of 1,773-1,063.

    The Audit Committee & Financial Statements

    School district finances are subject to internal and external auditing, which promote both accountability and transparency. The Greater Amsterdam School District Audit Committee, which is comprised of Board members and community members, is charged with providing independent advice and recommendations to the board.

    Each year, in accordance with New York State regulations, an independent auditor conducts a review of the districts’ financial statements. After the audit is completed, it is reviewed by the Audit Committee and accepted by the Board. This typically takes place in the fall. Below are the most recent audited financial statements:

    Notices