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.