The Pittsford Central School District 2021-2022 School Budget Passed. Thank you to the PCSD community for your support.

The results are as follows:

Budget: $143,925,548, within the tax cap

Yes: 2854

No: 1007


Proposition 1: Purchase 12 Replacement Buses from Bus Purchase Capital Reserve Fund

Yes: 3142

No: 697


Proposition 2: Authorize Facilities Mini Capital Project Funded with Capital Project Reserve

Yes: 3249

No: 591


Proposition 3: Establish and Fund 2021 Capital Reserve and End 2011 Capital Reserve

Yes: 3137

No: 689


Proposition 4: 1:1 Device Purchases with Capital Technology Reserve

Yes: 3157

No: 671


Board of Education: Three Seats, Six Candidates

Ruby L.S. Belton: 853 Votes

Jeffrey Casey: 2185 Votes, Seat 1, First Term

Jennifer Canning: 1545 Votes

Sarah Pelusio: 2165 Votes, Seat 2, First Term

Rene Sanchez-Kazacos: 2143 Votes, Seat 3, Second Term

Nicole Sidhu: 1035 Votes

2021-2022 Budget Vote and School Board Election
May 18, 2021 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Barker Road Middle School Gymnasium

Preserves Programs and Services
The adopted PCSD 2021-2022 budget is within the property tax cap and provides for a full-time, in-person learning program for kindergarten through 12th grade students. The proposed program and accompanying budget preserves programs and services and plans for an increased need for transitional services to address potential learning loss and social emotional services. Following one-and-a-half school years of working in temporary learning models, we anticipate that our K-12 program will open fully in September and that students will require many transition services. These transition services will address social/emotional needs given the isolation experienced during the pandemic as well as academic needs to address any learning gaps.

Within Property Tax Cap of 1.95%
The property tax cap for PCSD is at 1.95% as calculated by New York State’s Property Tax Levy Formula. The tax cap is commonly referred to as the “2% Tax Cap” because the law limits one factor of a complex formula to 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. However, the maximum tax levy limit may by higher or lower than 2% depending on each school district’s allowable adjustments and exemptions. As you can see, PCSD’s property tax cap this year is below 2%.

Foundation Aid Increase following years of Advocacy
New York State (NYS) has consistently underfunded PCSD in the area of Foundation Aid over the past 15 years by as much as 52%. Board of Education members, administrators, parents and residents have continuously advocated for NYS to fund PCSD, and other districts, as the law provides for its portion of Foundation Aid. This is the year that the NYS Legislation took some action to provide a more equitable distribution of tax dollars to school districts. For 2021-22, NYS promised PCSD to fund foundation aid at 60% of the legally required annual Foundation Aid, compared to the current 54%. This supplement of aid of $2.1 million permitted the District to decrease the reliance on Fund Balance (legally restricted savings) that was previously required to balance the budget, thereby promoting fiscal sustainability and tax stabilization further into the future.

US Federal Stimulus Funds
Outside of the State aid, the District will receive stimulus funds from the US Federal government for Covid-19 relief and recovery. These funds are a onetime grant to be used over three years and cannot be used to support the General Fund Budget. PCSD anticipates receiving $6.6 million in relief funds that are required to be used for specific relief purposes

Four Propositions:

Propositions will NOT result in additional taxes or issuance of debt

1. Purchase of Buses 
   Authorization to withdraw from the “Capital Reserve Fund – Purchase of Buses” (savings account) a sum of $1,388,661 to be used for the purchase of 12 replacement buses. Using reserves for this purchase will generate approximately $930,000 in State Aid to replenish the Reserve.
   
   
2. Facilities Mini Capital Project
   Authorization to withdraw from the “2007/2011 General Capital Reserve Fund” (savings account) a total sum not to exceed $6,000,000 to perform renovation and repair projects to enhance health and safety, efficiency and preservation of facilities, including: installation of emergency generators at Transportation/Maintenance Building, Mendon High, Thornell Road Elementary; installation of LED lighting at various school buildings; replacement and remediation of windows and boiler at the Lomb Building; upgrade of heat, ventilation and related systems at Mendon High and Sutherland High; partial roof replacement and restoration at Mendon Center Elementary and Mendon High; plumbing improvements at Allen Creek Elementary; public address system upgrade at Sutherland High; and other incidental work associated with said projects.
   
   
3. Establish Replacement Capital Reserve
   Authorization to establish a “2021 Capital Project Reserve Fund” (pursuant to Education Law Section 3651) and authorization to transfer all funds remaining in the “2007/2011 General Capital Reserve Fund” to the “2021 Building Capital Reserve Fund” for the purpose of financing construction, reconstruction, additions, alterations, renovations or other improvements to PCSD buildings and facilities, site improvements, and the acquisition of and incidental costs; with the ultimate amount of such reserve fund not exceeding $42,000,000 plus any accrued earnings on amounts deposited in such reserve fund, for a maximum life of ten years.
   
   
4. Capital Reserve Fund - Instructional Technology
   Authorization to withdraw from the “Capital Reserve Fund – Instructional Technology” (savings account) a sum of $875,000 to be used for the purchase of student technology devices (laptop computers, iPads and related software, supplies and infrastructure) to supplement a 1:1 student technology learning program and replace beyond-useful life devices, used in the grades six through nine instructional program.

Six Candidates for Three Board of Education Seats

There are six candidates running for three Board of Education seats. The candidates are listed below as they will appear on the ballot per legal drawing order:

Ruby L.S. Belton
Jeffrey Casey
Jennifer Canning
Sarah Pelusio
René Sanchez-Kazacos
Nicole Sidhu

For biographies please visit: Board of Education Candidates

Contingent Budget
Per NYS law, school boards can submit a budget to the voters a maximum of two times, then a “Contingent Budget” must be implemented. If the proposed budget is defeated once, the Board may conduct a revote or go straight to a Contingent Budget. NYS law requires that a Contingent Budget not include certain non-ordinary contingent expenses AND that the new budget must have a Tax Levy that is not greater than the previous year’s Tax Levy. The Board of Education is charged with determining a Contingent Budget. A Contingent Budget would result in an almost $2.1 million reduction in budget support, resulting in a potential reduction in programs and services.

Absentee Ballot Election
Absentee ballot applications must be returned by May 17, 2021, to the District Clerk at 75 Barker Rd., Pittsford, NY 14534.
Voters may fill out an application and ballot in person on or before May 17 between 8:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Ballots can be accepted up until 5 p.m. on the day of the vote, May 18, 2021, as long as the absentee ballot application is on file.
To learn more or to download the absentee ballot application, please visit www.pittsfordschools.org/absenteeballot. Please contact the District Clerk at deborah_carpenter@pittsford.monroe.edu or 267-1005 if you have any questions.

Voter Identification Required
Qualified voters must be: U.S. citizens, residents of the District for at least 30 days prior to the election, and 18 years of age or older. Proof of residency may include the following valid and current documents: New York State driver’s license; New York State non-driver identification card; utility bill; or, voter registration card. Voters shall also be required to provide their signature and printed name. COVID-19 health protocols will be followed.