Delaware Academy business official presents 2% tax-levy proposal, $962,000 spending increase; vote set for April 16

Garrett, the district business official, presented Delaware Academy's proposed 2024-25 spending plan and recommended a 2 percent tax-levy increase that stays within the 2.09 percent tax cap. Garrett said the district's proposed spending plan reflects about a 4.47 percent increase from the prior year (roughly $962,000) and that a 2 percent levy on an average $150,000 household would equal about $0.90 per month.

"We're recommending to stay at the 2," Garrett said, noting that the district is budgeting conservatively because state aid restoration remains uncertain. He described a planning approach that assumes a potential restoration of foundation aid (Garrett used an illustrative figure of $360,000) but cautioned that the state could restore a smaller amount; the board was advised to preserve fund balance to prepare for possible reductions in future years.

Garrett outlined areas of unanticipated cost the district budgets for, including fuel, special-education placements and temporary 1:1 aides, and gave a recent example of a repair-reserve use: an $88,000 boiler replacement that was covered by reserves. He also said district spending historically runs near 95 percent of budget but this year may reach about 97 percent.

The board confirmed next steps: final requests for BOCES services are due April 15; the board will officially vote to advance the budget to the community on April 16, at which point the community will vote in May; and a capital-project community forum is scheduled for April 9 at 6PM in the High School Library Media Center. The district clerk provided absentee-ballot request instructions and filing deadlines.

During the meeting, a board official also announced an administrative decision: the district received a DEC request for fishing access on district-owned land along the West Branch of the Delaware River and the administration will grant consent effective immediately; the official said that consent does not require board action. "I will be moving forward with granting that consent, following our meeting tonight," the official said.

What happens next: The board will advance the administrative budget next week; the community forum on April 9 will provide a public Q&A before the April 16 special district vote (polls noon'8PM).