ROTTERDAM — The Mohonasen Central School District is proposing a $67.8 million budget for the 2024-25 academic year that increases spending by more than $3 million while remaining under the state’s property tax cap limit.
The district’s school board unanimously approved the spending limit this past week, following weeks of budget discussions. The proposal, which still must be approved by district voters, represents a $3.35 million uptick in spending — a 5.2% increase compared to the current $64.4 million spending plan.
Instruction expenditures make up a bulk of the proposed expenditures, accounting for $36.5 million of the budget. That’s a $2.1 million increase from the current $34.3 million spending.
The district would add two additional class sections under the proposal, and $150,000 has been allocated to add a second school resource officer to the district — a proposal that has long been discussed but never acted upon.
“We have talked about this more than once over the last few years,” said Superintendent Shannon Shine.
The district currently has one resource officer, who spends a bulk of the time at the high school. Board members are expected to discuss what role a second officer would play in the district moving forward at upcoming meetings next month.
Under the proposed spending plan, the district’s tax levy would grow to just over $31 million, an increase of $571,507, or 1.84% — the most allowable under the district’s tax cap.
Property owners with an assessed value of $150,000 would see their annual school tax bill increase by $53, according to estimates calculated by the district. Those with a property value of $250,000 would see an $88 dollar increase.
State aid under the proposed spending plan is expected to increase $34.2 million, or $2.5 million more compared to the current operation budget.
A referendum on the spending plan will take place on May 21.