PLATTSBURGH, Vt. (WCAX) – It’s election day for school districts across New York’s North Country, including the city of Plattsburgh.
Voters in Plattsburgh are hitting the polls to decide on new school board members and the city school district’s proposed $52.5 million budget, a four percent hike from last year, translating to a 1.97 percent increase in residents taxes. For a home valued at $250,000, it would mean an additional $96 per year.
District Superintendent Jay Lebrun says if the vote fails, then school officials will decide whether to draft a new proposal or to fall back on the contingency budget, which could cut some services. “Under a contingency budget, districts cannot expend money on equipment,” he said. But he adds that the contingency budget does not include staff cuts, which other districts are grappling with. That’s because they used federal pandemic cash for one-time expenses and not on payroll. “As a result, our current budget process is perhaps somewhat smoother if we had not done so.”
A smoother process that he believes will win over voter support. “I’d say we are expecting the budget will pass and will continue to offer the same quality of education,” he said.
Most people we spoke with say they approved of the budget that’s on the ballot. Polls will be open until 8 p.m.