Business Manager Kim Brumley laid out the proposed budget for the Greater Amsterdam School District for the 2014-15 school year at Tuesday’s public hearing. The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes and no one from the public posed any questions.
According to Brumley, the $63,315,237 budget will enhance or maintain school programs at their current levels, with no cuts to staff, while decreasing the tax levy by 3.75 percent. The decrease was made possible due in part to the receipt of the first payment made by the Target Corporation for the Payment In Lieu Of Tax agreement, which was reached when the distribution center located in the Town of Florida was expanded.
The proposed budget would increase GASD’s unrestricted fund balance from the 2013-14 school year by $676,943 to $2,811,500. Included in the budget are allotments for three one-time expenditures consisting of funding for the first year of the HFM Pathways in Technology Early College High School, the replacement of high school marching band uniforms that have been in use since 1996, and the creation of a retirement reserve.
In addition to the budget, voters will be electing three members to GASD’s Board of Education from a pool of four candidates. The candidates include incumbent President Nellie Bush, incumbent Vice President Kent McHeard, incumbent Board Member Peter Pritchard, and newcomer Andrea Prusky. Also appearing on the ballot will be a proposition to support the Fort Hunter Library with a $5,000 tax levy.
The public vote will take place on May 20.
