District residents will vote on May 17 on a proposed $28,544,605 budget for the 2022-23 school year. The proposed budget, which was adopted by the Board of Education at their April 12 meeting, would decrease spending, preserve existing programs and services, and include a tax levy increase that is below the state-mandated cap.

Vote date and time
The vote will be held on Tuesday, May 17, from 12-9 p.m. in the district auditorium.

Expenditures
Spending under the proposal would decrease by 0.60%, or $173,014, less than the current-year budget. The decrease in spending is a result of projected faculty and staff retirements, a slight decrease in debt service payments and removal of an appropriation for construction of a new concession stand that is currently underway.

The proposed budget includes the purchase of three new school buses, and includes funding for debt service payments, salary increases for faculty and staff, and increases in employee benefit costs.

Levy change is below cap
If voters approve the proposed budget, the projected tax levy—the total amount of money a school district can raise through property taxes—would increase by 2.99%. This increase is below Stillwater’s maximum allowable tax levy increase as determined by the state’s tax levy “cap” formula (4.65%).

Maintaining programs while being fiscally responsible
“The proposed budget maintains programs and services in our schools while remaining fiscally responsible to district residents,” Superintendent Patricia Morris said. “Our priority remains to provide high quality programs for our students and innovative professional development opportunities for our staff. We would be able to do so within the proposed spending plan.”

Board of Education election
On May 17, voters will elect three members to serve on the Board of Education. The “at-large” seats are for three-year terms to run from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, to fill seats for which terms expire June 30, 2022. The candidates are Valerie Masterson, Amanda Cocozzo, William Callanan, Robert McCoy and Alaine Wood. Read more about the candidates.

Also on the ballot
District residents will also vote on a proposed $320,298 budget and elect three trustees for the Stillwater Public Library. The Stillwater Public Library has the same service boundary as the school district, however the library is not governed by the district.

Detailed information
Detailed information about the proposed budget is posted on the district’s budget webpage.

original post date 5/2