Croton-Harmon To Hold Budget Hearing Thursday

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — The Croton-Harmon Board of Education will hold a public hearing on its budget proposal for 2021-22 on Tuesday.

The spending plan of $50,775,098 is an increase of $1,350,573 or 2.7 percent over the current budget.

The proposed tax levy increase is 1.43 percent, under the state's property tax cap.

The budget is only one of the items that will be on the ballot May 18. The ballot will also include four transportation propositions, allowing residents to determine if the district will buy fossil-fuel or electric buses. If propositions 2, 3 and/or 4 pass, the district intends to purchase electric vehicles, providing NYSERDA grant funding is received. No more than three vehicles will be purchased. The transportation proposition would have zero impact on the 2021-22 tax levy, but would affect the 2022-23 school year as a prior year bus bond anticipation note expires.

● Transportation Prop #1 - For the purchase of two student transport vehicles and one EV
Charger.
● Transportation Prop #2 - For the purchase of a 66-passenger Electric Bus
● Transportation Prop #3 - For the purchase of a 27-passenger Electric Mini-Bus
● Transportation Prop #4 - For the purchase of a second 27-passenger Electric Mini-Bus

In addition, the Croton Free Library's budget proposal of $895,664 will be on the ballot.

Three school board members will be elected May 18. One will take over the remainder of former Trustee McFadden’s term immediately after the election to June 30, 2023, with the other two beginning new three-year terms from July 1 to June 30, 2024. Each position is at large, to be elected by all participating voters.

Kathleen Reddy-Guidry withdrew her candidacy, so nominating petition submission has been extended. SEE: Croton PTAs To Host Forum For School Board Candidates.

Running for three seats on the Croton-Harmon Board of Education are:

• Ana Teague
• Elizabeth Faber
• Omar Mayyasi
• Mary Obermeier
• Lindsay Mergens
• Brian Loges
• Jordan Humphrey

A Q&A as well as a presentation given to the Board of Education April 20 can be found at www.chufsd.org/budget.

The public will have the opportunity to have any questions related to the budget or propositions answered during the Public Budget Hearing at the May 6 Board of Education meeting. Questions can also be emailed at any time to budget.questions@chufsd.org.

Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 18 at Croton-Harmon High School, 36 Old Post Road.