FAQ for Budget & Bond Vote

Absolutely not. The district is proud of the ongoing success of the Technical Education program at Baldwin High School, in which participating students are encouraged to master skills in construction, drafting, engineering, and more!  

Budget Roadshows

Annual Budget Hearing: May 8, 6 PM, Baldwin High School

PTA Meetings

Brookside: April 11th, 7 PM
Middle School: April 15th, 7:30 PM
Plaza: April 18th, 7 PM
High School: May 6th, 7:30 PM
Meadow: May 9th, 7 PM
Steele: May 14th, 7 PM
Lenox: May 15th, 7 PM

Community Meetings

Baldwin Civic Association: April 18th, 7:30 PM, Baldwin High School
Baldwin Chamber of Commerce: May 8th, 12:30 PM, Location Apple Bee's
Stearns Park Civic Association: May 14th, 7 PM, Virtual

If the community rejects the proposed budget, the district will be required to adopt a “contingency” budget requiring a 0% tax levy increase over the prior year, along with regulatory restrictions that prohibit equipment purchasing and some expenditures on capital projects. For Baldwin, that would require budget reductions of $4,297,620. 

Yes, any budget reductions would have an adverse impact on the programs (academics, arts, athletics and technology access) that have helped Baldwin experience such success in the past few years, especially if the 2024-2025 budget is rejected.  

A “Multi-Year, Multi-Funded Capital Project Initiative” consists of strategically planned capital projects for the district that are being funded by several sources: multi-year capital reserve, multi-year capital budget, legislative grants, and if it passes, the capital bond. The capital projects have been strategically planned based on community input over the past several years as well as current and future needs of our academics, fine and performing arts, and athletics. The district's facilities, which are over a century old, require such modernization to provide students with the comprehensive and exceptional educational experience needed to succeed in life beyond high school. The world has changed significantly compared to a century ago. Technological advancements, climate shifts, and new security measures make these upgrades essential to support students and staff beyond 2024.
 

In order to move forward with the entire Multi-Year, Multi-Funded Capital Projects Initiative, the district must hold a public referendum, which is a voting process for a bond. A bond is a state-approved financing that is specified for a set scope of infrastructure projects. Similar to how a homeowner finances a home equity loan, the district repays the principal and interest of the bond over a set period of time. Please note, by law, bond funds can only be used for capital costs, building construction and/or renovations and major equipment purchases. The funds cannot be used for salaries or any operational expenses. 

A strong school system remains the center point of a desirable community, increasing home values and local businesses. Strong schools help make Baldwin a great place to live, raise a family, and/or start a business.

The district will not be able to upgrade the facilities, which are more than 100 years old, with the proposed projects. As time goes on, the likelihood is that capital improvement costs and interest rates will increase. 

Yes, the district has been very successful over the past several years in implementing much needed improvements to our facilities while at the same time minimizing the tax impact for our community. The proposed bond allows the district to maximize operational efficiencies throughout the district as well as New York State building aid to further minimize the tax impact on the community. 

The district facilities are more than 100 years old. Modernized spaces directly impacts learning. Baldwin UFSD’s positive bond rating will allow the district to obtain favorable interest rates. The district has received extensive community input and conducted the necessary research to put together a viable plan. This scope of work is also aligned to the recommendations reflected in the district's five-year building condition survey required by New York State. 

Due to the magnitude of the work needed, funding cannot be solely through capital reserve. While the district does an outstanding job maintaining the facilities, there is a time when they inevitably reach the end of their lifespan. Based on the community's input, the district devised a strategic plan that aims to modernize our art, athletic, and academic programs through this Multi-Year, Multi-Funded Capital Project Initiative. To execute this plan successfully and in a timely manner, we must secure part of this funding through a capital bond.

The total bond proposal is for $134,861,938 and the entire life of the bond is approximately 15-20 years. 

If you did not receive a copy of the Budget Beat in the mail, you can view an electronic version by  clicking here (also posted on the front page of this budget information section) and/or calling the district's Public Information Office to see why you did not receive one: (516) 434.6014