submitted by Erin Clary
New Lebanon Central School District residents have approved a $12,674,751 budget for the 2015-16 school year by a vote of 181 (yes) to 24 (no). This budget represents a 0.71 percent decrease in spending from the current year’s budget and will result in an estimated 0-percent tax rate increase for the fourth consecutive year.
[private]The 2015-16 budget maintains small class sizes, extensive extra-curricular activities and a high-quality K-12 program without cuts to the district’s highly recognized staff.
Although there were no official candidates running for the two vacant seats, residents elected two members to the Board of Education by a write in election: Timothy Smith and Michael Brutsch.
“Thank you to everyone who came out to vote in support of the 2015-16 school budget,” said Superintendent Leslie Whitcomb. “I’d also like to thank the Board of Education for their continued long-range financial planning. Thanks to them, this budget maintains quality programs and facilities, meets mandated requirements, and does so with minimum impact on the taxpayer.”[/private]