Ossining Proposes $137 Million School Budget For 2020-21

Editor's Note: The deadline for school districts to receive school budget ballots has been extended. Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order Sunday saying the ballots can be accepted by hand delivery through 5 p.m. Tuesday or received by mail through June 16 by the school district. SEE: Cuomo Extends Deadline For Mail-In School Budget Ballots

OSSINING, NY — The Ossining Board of Education holding its annual budget vote remotely. That's only one of the many changes forced on the district by the new coronavirus pandemic in New York.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned that the economic effect of the shutdown imposed to curb the outbreak could mean much less money available for state education aid. The state will be assessing and adjusting its budget several times in the course of 2020. Cuomo's last estimate was that state aid would be 20 percent lower than already promised.

Ossining administrators and trustees have been working since March with that reality.

"A budget was enacted by NYS for the 2020-2021 school year that freezes State Aid at the 2019-2020 amounts and includes a reduction called the Pandemic Adjustment and adds Federal stimulus dollars or CARES Act money," Superintendent Ray Sanchez wrote in the introduction to the 2020-21 budget document. "We want to ensure that not only the Board but, the entire Ossining community understands there is funding being provided by the Federal government (CARES) through NYS as a flow through to districts. Additionally, NYS is potentially utilizing these same dollars as a reduction (Pandemic Adjustment) to balance any budget shortfalls they may experience."

The spending plan they're putting before voters is $137,000,249, a budget-to-budget increase of 2.22 percent. You can check out the proposal here.

The school board will hold its annual budget hearing at 7:30 Tuesday. You can join via Zoom.

Modifications to revenue projections will be provided as information becomes available.

View past board meetings on the YouTube channel at www.ossiningtv.com.

There are three seats open on the Board of Education, and four candidates running. To view a candidate's bio, click on their name:

• Roger Battacharia
• Graig Galef (incumbent)
• Lisa Rudley (incumbent)
• Frank Schnecker (incumbent)

Things to know:

1. School district budget votes and school board elections are by absentee ballot only in 2020.
2. Absentee ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in the district the week of May 25.
3. If you are not registered, you may register by mail with the County Board of Elections or apply through the state online.

To vote, you must be:

• A United States citizen
• At least 18 yrs of age by June 9, 2020
• A resident of the district by May 10, 2020
• Cannot have been disqualified from voting based upon a reason described in Election Law §5-106.