BUDGET

Budget and Finance Documents

Overview of the Budget Process
Budget development starts in October when the Board of Education adopts a budget calendar. The Board also provides input to the administration on budget objectives and sets general parameters for the process.

The administration then prepares a budget with principals, department chairs and supervisors. Preliminary budgets are presented in March. The school board devotes time to budget development at its regular business meetings.

Administrators work to refine their numbers as more accurate cost estimates and enrollment figures are received during this period, and as Board members ask them to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of providing a service in a different way.

Throughout the winter and spring, school board members and administrators are also monitoring budget activity at the state level. School board members and administrators are in frequent contact with local legislators to inform them how various state funding proposals will affect East Greenbush schools.

The administration also looks at internal and external factors that are likely to have the greatest impact on the next year's budget. Such factors may include rising prices for fuel or health insurance.

In late March/early April (depending on state budget developments), the Board of Education votes on a proposed budget. A newsletter describing the budget is then printed and mailed to all district homes. A copy of the proposed budget broken down by line items is also available in late April at the main office of each school building, district office, public library and district website.

The public vote on the proposed budget is held by law on the third Tuesday in May, which is May 18, 2010.

SCHOOL TAXES

2009-2010 Tax Rates
The District’s school tax bills were mailed to residents on September 16, 2009. The tax collection period was September 16, 2009 to October 16, 2009, without payment of a penalty.

Using final assessment figures provided by the district’s six towns and final equalization rates set by the State Office of Real Property Services this summer, this year’s tax rates, per $1,000 of assessed value, are listed by clicking here.

Property Tax Links

Town Assessors

Chatham 392-2550
East Greenbush 477-9710
Nassau 766-2343
North Greenbush 283-3525
Sand Lake 674-2026 ext. 24
Schodack 477-7932