On January 8th, 2025, Granville CSD will be hosting a mid-year vote at the High School Gym from 12 PM to 8 PM. We invite all residents within the Granville Central School District to participate and cast their votes.
To help guide our school community in making an informed decision, we've provided answers to some frequently asked questions.
Where can I learn more about the vote?
Here is the legal notice on the GranvilleCSD.org website.
Here is the link in the District Calendar with the details.
In simplest terms, what is the meaning of Proposition I and II for the Granville community?
The Board is asking Granville voters for permission to create two separate savings accounts:
1) Bus Purchase Reserve Fund: This account will be used to save money specifically for buying school buses and other transportation-related vehicles. New York State requires school districts to switch to electric buses by 2035, so the District needs to plan ahead for this significant cost.
2) Capital Reserve Fund: This account will be used for general building repairs and unexpected emergencies, such as damage to school buildings.
In both cases, the Board wants to set aside up to $5,000,000, including interest and investment earnings, over the next five years.
Why does the District want to open these savings accounts?
There are important changes in how the state is handling school funding that are coming up:
1) Switching to electric buses by 2035: New York State is requiring all school districts to switch to electric buses by 2035. This means Granville will need to buy new electric buses, which cost about $400,000 each, as well as pay for things like charging stations, electricity costs, and training staff to take care of them.
2) State funding will likely decrease: The Governor has warned that state aid to schools will go down within the next couple of years, so the District needs to plan for less money coming from the state.
Here is a short article about how NYS Foundation Aid works and its impending decline to school districts.
Here is a short article about the upcoming electric bus transition.
Here is a NYS website about upcoming electric bus transition.
How do these savings accounts work?
Each savings account can hold up to 5 million dollars. Before any money can be moved into these accounts, even just one dollar, the school Board must approve it. The District is not required to put money into these accounts or keep adding to them.
Where will the money come from to fund these savings accounts?
The Bus Capital Reserve proposition specifies that the sources for funding are limited to "available fund balance, state aid reimbursement to the District on account of bus purchases, and proceeds of the sale of used buses, and/or such other monies as the voters may direct."
The Capital Reserve proposition specifies that the funds come from "such portion of the General Fund and/or available unappropriated fund balance, as determined by the Board of Education".
Will the voters be taxed to keep funding these savings accounts?
No, this savings will not raise taxes. The District will not be required to add money to these accounts or keep adding to them. These savings accounts are meant to save money for the future. By saving money and earning interest:
1) When the District needs to move forward with the electric bus transition, the money will be there instead of asking taxpayers for more.
2) If the District needs to fix a school building, the money will be there instead of asking taxpayers for more.
3) Any interest from these accounts would be used to offset the taxpayer portion of a future capital project (for example renovations, repairs, additions.)
To see the past 15 years of school tax history one-sheet, click here.
Will the District be “on the hook” for funding these accounts each year?
There is no requirement or law that says the District has to put any amount of funds into these accounts or continue to fund the account. The 5 million per account is simply a maximum set by the Board of Education as required by state education law.
Ed Law 3651 1(b) states "There shall be paid into any such fund an annual amount sufficient to meet the requirements of the proposition". The propositions on the ballot are to establish reserve funds with a limit of $5 million each. The propositions do not require each fund to reach the $5 million mark, rather they require that they do not exceed it.
I see the phrase "annually deposited" in the proposition. It sounds like a mandated deposit is required to me. Is that accurate?
The propositions state "annually deposit" in the accounts which simply specifies that deposits into the account will be made annually versus monthly. It does not mean that an annual deposit must be made, rather it specifies that deposits can only be made once a year.
Is this to save money for turf for the High School athletic field? Is there any way this money could be used for turf without voter approval?
No. In the case of the Capital Reserve Fund included in the Mid-Year vote being used for a turf field without voter input, it can not. Ed Law 3651 (3) states "An expenditure shall be made from a reserve fund only by authorization of the voters and for the specific purpose specified in the proposition."
Background Information: On March 18th, 2024, the Board held a meeting to hear what the public thought about voting on turf and athletic field lights. The Board decided not to move forward with the vote on turf and did not asked the public to vote on buying a turf field or paying for its upkeep.
Right now, the Board is revisiting the pros and cons of the turf project. If the Board decides to bring the turf project to a vote, the public will have to approve it before any purchase can be made.
Why is there a mid-year vote?
There are big changes affecting the school budget and state aid:
1) The move to electric buses: New York State requires all school districts to switch to electric buses by 2035, and it’s going to be expensive.
2) State aid cuts: The Governor is reviewing how much money schools get from the state and has warned that state aid will be reduced in the next year or two.
For more details, below is a link to a 17-minute Youtube replay presentation from the 10/7/24 Board of Education meeting, starting at the 36-minute mark, that explains the upcoming expenses and changes in state aid.
How can I remember when and where to vote?
You can add the vote date, time and location to your digital calendar from the public District Calendar by hovering over the District Calendar post, or jot down the details in your printed calendar:
Here is the link to the District Calendar event for the mid-year vote.
In summary, voting yes or no means what?
Voting yes means agreeing to let the District open two special savings accounts. These accounts will help save for the future costs of switching to electric buses and prepare for a possible decrease in state aid. The Board of Education will need to approve any transfer of funds into these accounts.
Voting no means choosing not to open these savings accounts and not planning ahead for these upcoming costs.
I have additional questions about the mid-year. Who should I contact?
Please contact Granville CSD School Community Coordinator, Karin Rozell, at krozell@granvillecsd.org or 518-642-1051 Ext. 1317, she will update this FAQ page with community questions and answers from our school administrators. Thank you!