14-05-2025
Three Essex County schools float budgets over tax caps
TICONDEROGA — All but three schools in Essex County have proposed 2025-26 budgets under the state tax cap.
Schroon Lake, Keene and Moriah drafted budgets that exceed their adjusted tax levy caps under state law and will require a 60 percent supermajority vote to pass.
When listed, tax rates are per $1,000 of assessment.
All budget votes are Tuesday, May 20, but each district sets their own times.
TICONDEROGA
Total Budget: $22.8 million, increase of $6,114, +0.03%.
Tax Levy: $13.2 million, increase of $139,760, +1.07%.
Tax Rate: Not figured by district.
Levy meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
School Board Candidates (three three-year terms):Tracey Cross-Baker (incumbent), John Dreimiller, Mark Russell (incumbent), James Wells Sr.
Vote: Noon to 8 p.m. in the Junior-Senior High School Auditorium, Essex County residents; and Hague Community Center, Warren County residents.
CROWN POINT
Total budget: $9.7 million, increase +2.1%.
Tax levy: $1.78 million, increase of $35,865, +1.99%.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
Program/staff changes: Additional support for student learning, updating transportation fleet and needed building repairs.
School board candidates (four three-year terms): all incumbents: Michael St. Pierre, Anita Johnson, Jodie Ingleston, Todd Waldorf.
Vote: Noon to 8 p.m., school cafeteria.
SCHROON LAKE
Total budget: $10.4 million, increase of $628,881, +6.42%.
Tax levy: $8.4 million, increase of $643,854, +8.3%.
Tax rate: Not given by district, but estimated $24 increase on $100,000 of assessment.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: No; exceeds cap of 3.14% (will require 60% supermajority vote to pass).
Proposition: Purchase one student transport vehicle for $103,000.
School board candidates (two three-year terms): Valerie LeBlanc, Jennifer Pitkin, Michael Welse.
Vote: Noon to 8 p.m., school auditorium entrance.
NEWCOMB
Total budget: $6.95 million, increase of $138,313, +2.03% .
Tax levy: $4.58 million, increase of $122,396, +2.5.%
Tax rate: Homestead, $4.22, $0.22 increase (estimated); Non-Homestead, $17.07, $0.84 increase (estimated).
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
Program/staff changes: Uses $990,000 in fund balance' upgrades technology; new lighting in auditorium.
Propositions: Buy one seven-passenger van for $55,000; establish Purchase Reserve Fund of $157,000.
School board candidates (one five-year term): Peter Armstrong (incumbent) .
Vote: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at school auditorium entryway.
MINERVA
Total budget: $6.36 million, increase of $193,819, +3.04%.
Tax levy: $3.9 million, increase of $98,262, +2.5%.
Tax rate: $8.75 for Chester, $8.74 for Minerva; estimated increase of $0.25.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
School board candidates (one five-year term): Hayley Killon (incumbent).
Vote: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at school.
MORIAH
Total budget: $22.01 million, decrease of -0.56%.
Tax levy: $4,117,583 million, decrease of -0.08%.
Tax rate: $17.18 (estimated), decrease from current $17.50.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: No (adjusted tax cap is (minus) -16%), will require 60% supermajority to pass.
Proposition: Buy one diesel school bus for $152,276.
School board candidates (two three-year terms): Dana Gilbo (incumbent), Michael Celotti (incumbent), Benjamin Winters (incumbent).
Vote: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., main school lobby.
LAKE PLACID
Total budget: $23.1 million, increase of +3.13%.
Tax levy: $18.07 million, increase of +1.81%.
Tax rate: $5.28, increase of $0.09.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
Program/staff changes: Uses $1.2 million in fund balance; health insurance increase of 12%.
Propositions: Funding for Wilmington E.M. Cooper Memorial Public Library, $17,369; create $1 million Capital Reserve Fund over 10 years.
School board candidates (two three-year seats): Christopher Fadden; one open (write-in),
Vote: 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Lake Placid Elementary School Cafeteria (for Lake Placid residents), and from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Wilmington Community Center (for Wilmington residents).
KEENE
Total budget: $89.13 million, increase of +7.9%.
Tax levy: $7.51 million, increase of +4.65%.
Tax rate: Not ready due to townwide reassessment
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: No (adjusted cap is +3.03%; requires 60% supermajority vote to pass).
Program/staff changes: Add full-time library media specialist and special education teacher.
School board candidates (two three-year terms): Story Bellows, Lauren Ruppert.
Vote: Noon to 8 p.m., main entrance to school.
BOQUET VALLEY
Total budget: $16.46 million, increase of $815,144, +5.21%.
Tax levy: $8.54 million, increase of $253,868, +3.06%.
Tax rate: $11.02, increase of $0.33.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
Propositions: Buy two 65-passenger buses for $357,000; buy van, snow plow truck and tractor for $151,000, all from Transportation Reserve Fund.
School board candidates (three three-year terms): Thomas Broderick (incumbent), Terry Egglefield, Megan Ostroski, Jason Welch, Paige Cotter Saltamach, Paul Fenton.
Vote: Noon until 8 p.m. at Mountain View Campus in Elizabethtown.
AUSABLE VALLEY
Total budget: $39.18 million, increase of $1.27 million, +3.36%.
Tax levy: $16.76 million, increase of $578,000, +3.57%.
Tax rate: $12.98 (estimated), decrease from $13.92.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
Program/staff changes: Six teaching positions reduced through attrition; reduce equipment purchases.
School board candidates (five terms): Term A (three years): Scott Bombard; Term B (two years): Kenneth Bruno Jr. (incumbent); Term C (three years): Jason Fuller; Term D (three years): Margaret Rondeau, Shannon Stanley; Term E (one year): Jason Parrow, Bradford Hanley.
Vote: Noon to 9 p.m. at AVCSD Middle School Cafeteria.
WILLSBORO
Total budget: $11.17 million, increase of $186,018, +1.69%.
Tax levy: $6.29 million, increase of $181,253, +2.96%.
Tax rate: $8.96, increase of $0.27.
Levy Meets NYS Tax Cap: Yes.
Proposition: Buy one 65-passenger bus for $175,000.
School board candidates (one three-year term): Kasey Young (incumbent), Morgan Drinkwine.
Vote: Noon until 8 p.m., in school gym.
