School budget vote set for Tuesday, May 21 Proposed budget set below district s calculated property tax levy limit. *See pages 2-3 for details.

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1 BUDGET School budget vote set for Tuesday, May 21 Proposed budget set below district s calculated property tax levy limit Schalmont Central School District residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 21, to vote on a $43,173,155 budget proposal for the school year. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Schalmont High School new gym lobby. Voters will also elect three candidates to the Board of Education and decide on a bus purchase proposition [see page 6]. The proposed budget increases spending by $1,248,155, or 2.98 percent, over the current year s budget. If approved by voters, the budget would carry a tax levy the total amount of money to be raised through property taxes of $26,486,746, which is a decrease of 8.11 percent from the current year s tax levy. As determined by the state s property tax levy limit formula, Schalmont must decrease its tax levy by at least 7.86 percent in in order to avoid triggering the need for budget approval by a supermajority of voters. Because the proposed budget s tax levy is below this threshold, a simple majority (50% plus one) is sufficient for budget passage. District officials attribute the low cap threshold to the way the state s property tax levy limit formula factors in paymentsin-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT agreements. Even though we are proposing a tax levy that is actually lower than our current levy, it does not mean property owners can expect to see a decrease in their taxes next year, said Superintendent Dr. Carol Pallas. Besides the school tax levy, there are several other factors outside the district s control, including changes in the total assessed property value within the district, that ultimately impact tax rates and individual tax bills. [See pages 2-3]. Balancing the budget in the age of the tax levy limit To stay below the district s maximum *See pages 2-3 for details. allowable tax levy, the proposed budget contains approximately $186,000 in spending reductions [see page 3], including some staff positions the majority of which were achieved through attrition. It also includes ongoing savings resulting from the retirement of several veteran instructional and administrative staff members, who were replaced by professionals with lower salaries. Approximately $75,000 of the total reductions have been made to non-instructional positions. Despite the reductions, school officials believe the proposed budget maintains academic programming that will help ensure students graduate college and career ready, even in these challenging times. Pallas believes Schalmont is in a better financial position than most New York state school districts. She attributes this to sound fiscal planning by the previous administration, including nearly $4 million in budget reductions over the last three years. Since , school officials have eliminated more than 49 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, closed two elementary schools, centralized bus stops, and reduced various offerings and programs. Concessions from several employee bargaining units and the receipt of several competitive grants have also helped Schalmont overcome years of flat or decreasing state and federal aid, increasing costs and declining enrollment. What s inside pg.2-3 PILOTs & the tax levy limit pg.4 Student Initiatives & Achievements pg Budget Where the money comes from Where the money goes pg.6 School Board Candidates & Bus Proposition Details pg.7 Budget Summary Vote Tuesday, May 21, 6 a.m. 9 p.m., Schalmont High School New Gym Lobby a Proposed Budget: $43,173,155 a Spending Change: $1,248,155 or 2.98% a Tax Levy Change: -$2,336,519 or -8.11%* The school board has been making difficult decisions over the past few years while balancing their concern for the economic challenges facing taxpayers and the district s mission to educate all students. Sandra Beloncik, Board of Education President continued on page 3 School Budget Notice BUDGET page 1

2 PILOT agreements and the property tax levy limit How the GE PILOT impacts next year s proposed budget Schalmont, the Town of Rotterdam and Schenectady County reached a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PI- LOT) agreement with General Electric in June While the agreement will prove beneficial to the district s long-range financial planning, it has a unique impact on next year s budget proposal because of the way PILOTs factor into the state s property tax levy cap formula. Read on for more details. What is a PILOT Q. agreement? A PILOT is a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes made by a property owner to compensate a local government (e.g., town or school district) for some or all of the tax revenue that it loses because of the nature of the ownership or use of a particular piece of real property. In other words, when a PILOT is in place, a property owner agrees to pay a certain amount to the town and/or school district in exchange for having the property removed from the tax rolls, eliminating any tax bill on the property for the length of the agreement. Schalmont has had a PILOT in place with SI Group for many years, and the GE PILOT will become effective during the school year. Q. What are the benefits of the GE PILOT agreement? In the long-run, the GE PILOT is beneficial because it guarantees an amount of revenue for the district for each year under the terms of the 10-year agreement. Schalmont will receive $3,033,120 each year from 2013 to 2018, and $3,159,500, each year from 2019 to Historically, the district has faced fiscal uncertainty due to tax certiorari claims filed by GE, challenging its property tax assessments in the Town of Rotterdam. This agreement settled those claims, and the PILOT will provide the district with page BUDGET In the proposed budget, the tax levy for next year would be $2,336,519 less than the current year, or a decrease of 8.11 percent. GE s first-year PILOT payment of $3,033,120 compensates for this decrease in the tax levy, and results in a 1.97 percent increase in total local revenues. At the same time, the total tax levy paid by all other taxpayers (not including GE) is increasing next year. As a result, even though the overall tax levy is decreasing, individual taxpayers will not necessarily see a decrease in their tax bills. guaranteed revenues and stability in this otherwise difficult fiscal climate. How does the GE PILOT affect Schalmont s tax levy limit calculation? To determine its tax levy limit, Schalmont started with its current-year tax levy and then followed an eight-step calculation to adjust for tax base growth, inflation and other factors as prescribed by the law. One of those factors is payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (or PILOT). Because Schalmont s total PILOT payments are increasing dramatically from this year to next, the tax levy limit formula results in a tax levy limit for next year that is below the district s current levy. In fact, even after allowable exclusions are factored into the formula, Schalmont s maximum allowable tax levy for next year is 7.86 percent lower than the current tax levy. Exceeding this threshold would require budget passage by a supermajority of voters (at least 60 percent). However, the actual proposed tax levy is a decrease of 8.11 percent, an amount that is below the threshold. As a result, budget passage Q. Q. requires approval by a simple majority vote (50% plus one). How does the GE PILOT affect the district s revenues? As a result of the agreement, GE s property will come off the district s tax rolls in , and the company will make its first payment-in-lieu-of-taxes. GE s first PILOT amount of $3,033,120 is $185,000 more than the company s current-year tax bill, more than compensating for the loss of GE s tax dollars in the tax levy. In fact, Schalmont s total local revenues (i.e., tax levy plus PILOT payments) next year are expected to increase by 1.97 percent (see chart above). Q. Does this mean my tax bill will decrease? Not necessarily. Even though the overall tax levy is decreasing, taxpayers should not expect to see a decrease in their individual tax bills. As the chart above illustrates, this year s total school tax levy is nearly $29 million, with GE paying $2.8 million and all other district taxpayers

3 covering the remaining $26 million. Next year, the total proposed tax levy would be $26.5 million, an 8.11 percent decrease from the current year. However, GE would not pay any portion of the levy next year, making its first PILOT agreement payment instead. More importantly, the tax levy is only one of several factors that determine tax rates and tax bills. Other factors, many of which are beyond the district s control, include total assessment levels determined by town assessors, equalization rates determined by the state, and individual property owners exemptions, such as the state s STAR program. The district sets final tax rates each summer after all of these other factors are finalized. However, based on current information, here s an idea of what a typical district taxpayer can expect. Based on a hypothetical home assessed at $150,000 within the Town of Rotterdam in , the tax bill was $2, If voters approve the proposed school budget, the same homeowner could expect to pay $2, an additional $57.01 in school taxes in Again, this is only an estimate. v Proposed Budget Changes Total personnel reductions: 3.55 FTE* Non-Instructional Staff Reductions (2.35 FTE = $75,984): Reduce mechanic position by 0.2 FTE Reduce transportation router position by 0.25 FTE Reduce high school library aide position by 0.4 FTE Reduce school monitor position by 0.5 FTE Eliminate 1.0 FTE account clerk typist position Instructional Staff Reductions (1.2 FTE = $79,702): Reduce high school foreign language teaching position by 0.4 FTE Reduce elementary school psychologist position by 0.5 FTE Reduce high school home economics teaching position by 0.3 FTE Savings from Retirements ($55,600): Business administrator Chief information officer Teaching positions Additions (0.5 FTE = $24,708): Addition of a 0.5 FTE speech teaching position * full-time equivalent Navigating through year two of the property tax levy limit New York state s property tax levy limit legislation went into effect last year, and has been referred to as a 2 percent cap. However, it does not in fact restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent. The law sets a threshold for a district s tax levy, which determines whether a budget needs to be approved by a simple majority of voters (50% plus one) or by a supermajority (60% or more). That threshold is determined by a complex, eight-step calculation. As such, many districts may propose tax levy increases above or below 2 percent and still be within their cap. In 2012, only five districts had an actual calculated levy limit (including exclusions) of 2 percent, while 575 school districts had a limit greater than 2 percent and 91 had a limit less than 2 percent. Tax levy limits actually ranged between a high of a percent increase to a low of a percent decrease. v Budget continued from page 1 The school board has been making difficult decisions over the past few years while balancing their concern for the economic challenges facing taxpayers and the district s mission to educate all students, said Board of Education President Sandra Beloncik. We believe this proposal continues to address both of those priorities. While it has been reported that Schalmont will receive $877,686 more in state aid next year, this figure is based on estimates for cost-based aids that are historically inflated. The district expects an increase of approximately $21,000 in Foundation Aid, which has been frozen in recent years, and about $423,000 as a partial restoration of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). The state initiated the GEA three years ago to help eliminate the state s large budget deficit, taking away education aid promised to schools under the state s own aid formula. During that time, Schalmont has lost more than $5 million to the GEA, and is projected to lose another $1.37 million next year even after the partial restoration. While any increase in funding is welcome news, school aid is not keeping pace with the cost of local education, according to school officials. To that end, they are allocating some of the year-to-year aid increase to help the district manage future revenue gaps and help stabilize the levy for district taxpayers in the coming years. The district may also lose approximately $33,000 for next year because of sequestration, an across-the-board funding cut to education, as well as state and local governments, resulting from federal budget deliberations. Schalmont officials have and will continue to take a long-term approach to financial planning, said Business Administrator Joseph Lenz. With so many budgetary challenges, we can t afford not to. v Visit the budget section of the district website to access more budget Q & A, videos on the GEA and tax levy limit legislation, fact sheets and much more Budget page 3

4 Success in the classroom and beyond Schalmont jumped to #20 in 2012 from #49 in 2005 in the Albanybased Business Review s annual school district rankings. In a report published by Buffalo Business First in Fall 2012, Schalmont was ranked 21 st for academics out of 84 upstate school districts. Of the Class of 2012, 85 percent went on to attend a two- or fouryear college. 96 percent of the Class of 2012 earned a Regents diploma or higher. In , Schalmont s graduation rate was 94 percent; in June 2012, the state average was 74 percent. Sports teams regularly earn recognition as scholar-athletes by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association for earning a 90 average or better. Where does the money come from? Revenue Summary Each year, the Schalmont community supports charitable organizations and individuals in need through a variety of community service activities. For example, Schalmont and Mohonasen baseball teams recently joined together for a Coaches vs. Cancer event where they raised $5,000 for the American Cancer Society. At Jefferson, students voluntarily participated in the school s first Pay It Forward Fair in which they learned about character education while helping a neighbor, charity or other organization. Budget proposal sustains district priorities In addition to the state-required core curriculum, the proposed budget funds necessary and mandated services, as well as a wide array of programs designed to help students graduate ready for college and careers. For example, the proposal supports: Maintaining current average class sizes at the elementary and middle school levels. Existing academic programming, extracurriculars and a variety of athletic opportunities. A pre-engineering program and more than 20 honors, advanced placement and college-level courses. Professional development and technological needs related to the New York State Reform Agenda, which calls for the implementation of Common Core Learning Standards and data-driven instruction to improve student success. Initiatives designed to strengthen school security. Approved Budget Proposed Budget Percent Change State and Federal Aid $11,278,588 $11,878, % Fund Balance Appropriations $693,778 $393, % Interfund Transfers $224,243 $424, % Interest Earnings/Building Use/Refunds $514,250 $514,250 0% Payments in Lieu of Taxes $390,876 $3,475, % Property Tax Levy for Budget $28,823,265 $26,486, % Revenue in budget $41,925,000 $43,173, % Expenditure Summary Approved Budget Proposed Budget Percent Change Instruction $19,750,748 $20,358, % Employee Benefits $11,862,941 $12,521, % Operations and Maintenance $2,479,997 $2,558, % Transportation $2,560,523 $2,587, % District Support $1,354,399 $1,323, % Debt Service and Transfer $3,916,392 $3,823, % Expenditures in budget $41,925,000 $43,173, % page BUDGET Where does the money go? (see next page for details)

5 Budget to budget comparison How your school tax dollars are spent Proposed Expenditures Budget Proposed Instruction (47.16% of budget) Teaching $10,249,870 $10,414,060 Occupational Education $870,391 $896,503 Special Education $5,203,244 $5,254,137 Curriculum Development $250,644 $322,601 Supervision $782,866 $833,299 Summer School $64,537 $65,500 Library $328,312 $332,813 Computer-Assisted Instruction $547,014 $760,621 Guidance $503,425 $523,842 Health Services $281,016 $291,502 Psychological Services $279,546 $268,618 Co-Curricular Activities $70,622 $71,681 Athletics $319,261 $323,499 Total $19,750,748 $20,358,676 Percent Change +3.07% Employee Benefits (29% of budget) Health Insurance $7,300,053 $7,147,625 Teachers Retirement $1,722,189 $2,362,484 Employees Retirement $942,334 $1,077,799 Social Security (FICA) $1,494,434 $1,513,553 Worker s Compensation $157,443 $173,188 Unemployment $100,000 $100,000 Life Insurance $121,988 $121,988 Disability Insurance $24,500 $24,500 Total $11,862,941 $12,521,137 Percent Change +5.54% Transportation (5.99% of budget) Transportation $ 2,371,971 $2,398,530 Garage $78,552 $78,719 Contracted Transportation $110,000 $110,000 Total $2,560,523 $2,587,249 Percent Change +1.04% Proposed Expenditures Budget Proposed District Support (3.07% of budget) Board of Education $6,281 $6,281 District Clerk/Meeting $2,210 $2,209 Central Administration $231,669 $225,952 Business Administration $379,820 $343,642 Auditing $47,792 $47,792 Treasurer $60 $60 Tax Collection $10,610 $10,610 Purchasing $8,156 $8,400 Legal Services $108,150 $108,150 Personnel $56,930 $58,334 Public Information $105,251 $107,991 Central Printing $58,535 $59,555 Insurance $128,000 $128,000 School Dues $18,700 $18,700 BOCES Administration $192,237 $198,004 Total $1,354,399 $1,323,680 Percent Change -2.27% Debt Service & Transfers (8.86% of budget) Buses $461,041 $475,574 Construction $2,863,733 $2,764,862 Tax Certiorari $446,618 $458,238 Interfund Transfer $145,000 $125,000 Total $3,916,392 $3,823,674 Percent Change -2.37% Operations & Maintenance (5.93% of budget) Custodial Services $1,834,679 $1,860,314 Maintenance $645,318 $698,425 Total $2,479,997 $2,558,739 Percent Change +3.17% TOTAL EXPENDITURES $41,925,000 $43,173,155 Percent Change +2.98% Budget page 5

6 Voters to decide on bus purchase proposition On May 21, voters will consider a separate proposition for $455,000 to purchase three 66-passenger buses, one 28-passenger wheelchair bus and a Suburban. The district s current fleet would not increase under the proposition because older, heavily-used vehicles that are becoming too costly to maintain would be traded in towards the purchase of the new vehicles. If approved, the actual cost to the district will be significantly less than the amount sought because of the estimated trade-in value of the vehicles that would be taken out of service and state aid reimbursement on 52 percent of the cost. This reduces the local taxpayer share of the proposition to $210,300. The cost is already included in the debt service calculation for , so it would not increase the proposed budget. The proposition is part of the district s annual replacement plan of the existing fleet, designed to help maintain student safety and control repair and maintenance costs on older vehicles, said Transportation Supervisor Kevin Mercoglan. State law requires buses to undergo rigorous safety inspections twice a year. If a school bus fails one of these inspections, it must be taken off the road immediately and cannot be put back into service until it meets the state s standards. It costs much more to maintain an older bus to the state s standards than it costs to maintain a new bus. New vehicles also carry lower maintenance costs for the first five years, when they re still under warranty. All of the new vehicles would be used for student transportation and replace retiring models from 1999 to 2002 with approximately 120,000 to 186,000 miles on them. Did you know? Every day, Schalmont buses transport approximately 1,900 students on 51 buses via 40 morning bus routes, seven mid-day routes and 40 afternoon routes. Schalmont buses travel a total of approximately 593,000 miles per year. The district covers a geographical area of 75 square miles. By the time an old bus is retired from the district s fleet, it will be approximately 10 years old and have accumulated between 120, ,000 miles. v page BUDGET Three seats open on the school board On May 21, voters will select three boad members from the following five candidates (listed alphabetically). The positions are unpaid, carry three-year terms, and become effective July 1, Michael Della Villa Michael Della Villa is seeking his fourth term. He is co-founder of Rockit Science Solutions, and has more than 25 years of information technology experience. He has volunteered as a coach for Capital District Girls Basketball and AAU Basketball. He has been involved in Rotterdam soccer, Little League, CYO Basketball, and Pop Warner football. After graduating from Schalmont High School, he earned his bachelor s degree from Siena College. Della Villa and his wife, Debbie, have three children two daughters who are Schalmont alumnae, and a son who attends Schalmont High School. John DiCocco John DiCocco is running for his first term. He is a contract manager at General Electric. For the past four years, he has served on the district s Budget Advisory Committee. He also previously served as a Cub Scout pack master. After graduating from Draper High School, he earned a bachelor s degree in mechanical engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He and his wife, Brenda, have three children currently attending Schalmont schools at the secondary level. Amelia Hallam Amelia Hallam is running for her first term. She is an operating room technician at Ellis Hospital, where she has been employed for 27 years. She has served Duanesburg, Niskayuna and Schalmont schools as a teacher s aide and monitor. Hallam is a past-president of the Mohonasen-Schalmont swim club and has volunteered with the Albany Starfish Swim Team. She has served on the district s Budget Advisory Committee. Hallam graduated from Notre Dame High School in Schenectady. She and her husband, Sean, have two children who are Schalmont High School alumni. Robert Sheehan Robert Sheehan is seeking his fourth term. He is a pharmacy manager at Saint Clare s Hospital. He is a member of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, the Northeast Society of Hospital Pharmacists and the American Pharmaceutical Society. He is a soccer official and member of the Eastern Board Approved Soccer Officials Association. After graduating from Schalmont High School, he attended Union University and the Albany College of Pharmacy. He and his wife, Sharon, have three children who are Schalmont High School alumni. William Wilday William Wilday is seeking his first term. He is employed by Hannaford Brothers, and is chef/owner of Conscious Cuisine Personal Chef Service. He has volunteered for the Electric City Detachment Marine Corp League, is past commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 88, past scout master and co-founder of Schalmont Pee Wee Wrestling. Wilday is a Niskayuna High School graduate, and earned his associate s degree in Culinary Arts from Schenectady County Community College. He and his wife, Linda, have two children who are Schalmont High School alumni. v

7 The box to the right is the School District Budget Notice as required by state law. School districts must distribute this notice, as prescribed, to all district residents. Overall Budget Proposal School District Budget Notice Budget Adopted for the School Year Budget Proposed for the School Year Contingency Budget for the School Year* Total Budgeted Amount, Not Including Separate $41,925,000 $43,173,155 $43,148,550 Propositions Increase/Decrease for the School Year $1,248,155 $1,223,550 Percentage Increase/Decrease in Proposed Budget 2.98% 2.92% Change in the Consumer Price Index 2.1% Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy, Including Levy to Support Library Debt, if applicable $28,823,265 $26,486,746 $26,462,141 DEFINITIONS The state requires school districts to present their annual budgets in three parts: program, administrative and capital. 1. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS: Salaries and benefits of all professional staff members who spend 50 percent or more of their time in administration and supervision. Also included: salaries and benefits of clerical staff for administrators; public relations; central printing; curriculum development and supervision; research planning and evaluation; central data processing; tax collection; most legal services; and school board costs. 2. PROGRAM COSTS: Salaries and benefits of all teachers, guidance counselors, speech therapists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, aides, monitors, etc. Also included: district transportation costs (except bus purchases); interscholastic athletics; in-service training; computer-assisted instruction; library, audiovisual and educational TV costs; and co-curricular recreation, youth and civic programs. 3. CAPITAL COSTS: Debt service on buildings; leases; school bus purchases; tax certiorari and court-ordered costs; operation and maintenance costs, including salaries and benefits of all janitorial staff. Total Permissable Exclusions $595,107 $693,297 A. Proposed School Year Tax Levy, Not Including $28,228,158 $25,793,449 Levy for Permissable Exclusions or Levy to Support Library Debt B. School Tax Levy Limit, Not Including Levy for $28,670,485 $25,865,032 Permissable Exclusions Difference: A - B (Positive Value Requires 60.0% Voter Approval) ($442,327) ($71,583) 1. Administrative Component $2,137,266 $2,156,980 $2,155, Program Component $33,456,345 $34,713,649 $34,690, Capital Component $6,331,389 $6,302,526 $6,302,526 *If the proposed budget is defeated by voters on May 21, the Board of Education will have three options: Present the same budget to voters a second time, present a revised budget to voters or adopt a contingency budget. If the budget is defeated a second time, the board must adopt a contingent budget. With the new tax levy limit law in effect, the rules for contingent budgets have changed. In contingency, districts can levy a tax no greater than that of the prior budget year a 0 percent increase. In addition, non-contingent expenses including student supplies, certain equipment purchases and community use of school facilities must be removed. If forced to adopt a contingency budget, Schalmont would be faced with eliminating another $24,605 from its proposed budget. List Separate Propositions that are not included in the Total Budgeted Amount: (Tax Levy associated with propositions not eligible for exclusion may affect property tax levy limit and voter approval requirements) Description Under the Budget Proposed Estimated Basic STAR Exemption Savings 1 for the School Year Basic STAR tax savings $ The annual budget vote for the fiscal year by the qualified voters of the Schalmont Central School District, Schenectady County, New York, will be held in the Schalmont High School new gym lobby on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by a voting ballot or machine. 1 The basic school tax relief (STAR) exemption is authorized by section 425 of the Real Property Tax Law. Amount Budget page 7

8 Board of Education Sandra Beloncik President Gregory Campoli Vice President Michael DellaVilla Albert Falcone Michael Pasquarella Robert Sheehan Kevin Thompson Produced in cooperation with the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service. Superintendent Dr. Carol Pallas School Business Administrator Joseph Lenz Director of Curriculum Bronson Knaggs Editor Audrey Hendricks Phone (518) Sabre Dr., Schenectady, NY Postal Customer ECRWSS Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 203 Albany, NY What s Inside? PILOT q&a, Bus Proposition details, School board Candidates AND more! Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 21! Vote Details: Tuesday, May 21 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Schalmont High School New Gym Lobby Ballot Items: Budget Proposal Bus Proposition Board of Education Candidates Don t forget to bring proper identification to the polls. Drama club produces first full musical in 25 years Congratulations to everyone involved in Schalmont High School s production of Little Shop Of Horrors earlier this spring. The school s first full musical in more than 25 years received rave reviews. Voter Qualifications All voters must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen and a district resident for at least 30 days prior to the vote. No pre-registration is required, but personal identification/proof of residency is required (e.g., driver s license with current address, utility bill showing resident s name and current address). Residents will not be allowed to vote without proper identification. Absentee Ballots Absentee ballots are available for those who are unable to appear in person at the polls. Voters must complete and return an application seven days prior to the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or one day before the vote if the ballot is to be picked up personally by the voter. Absentee ballots must be returned to the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 21. Call , ext. 4002, for more details. More information For more information about the proposed budget, as well as the state s property tax cap law and fact sheets on other issues impacting school budgets, go to www. schalmont.org/budget or call , ext A copy of the complete budget proposal is also available in the district office and each school s main office. Your opinion matters The district invites voters to complete a voluntary and anonymous exit survey after casting ballots on May 21. Your participation helps the district gather feedback and will help inform future budget decisions. page BUDGET