On May 17, Mayfield Central School District voters approved the district’s $20,636,429 budget proposal for 2022-23, elected one board of education member and approved the vehicle purchases for the Transportation and Buildings and Grounds departments.
The budget proposition passed 238 to 84. Because Mayfield proposed a budget below the state’s allowable limit for increasing its tax levy, the budget required a simple majority vote for authorization.
With the help of a 3% increase in state aid and funding from the federal American Rescue Plan, the district was able to propose a budget that keeps the tax levy increase to 1.99%, which is below the district’s allowable limit of 3.07% as calculated under the state’s “tax cap” formula. The school district had sought to propose a budget that maintains, and even grows, academic programming, while still being considerate of taxpayers during a time when families are facing higher costs in their own budgets due to inflation.
“We want to thank everyone who took the time to come out and vote,” Superintendent Christopher Harper said. “Our schools are the heartbeat of our community, and voting is an important way residents show that they care about Mayfield students.”
Kevin Capobianco was elected to the seat on the Board of Education, edging out incumbent Cassie Kristel 190 to 129. He will begin serving his five-year term July 1.
The ballot also asked residents to vote on two other propositions. The first, which would allow the district to purchase a pickup truck equipped with a plow for $45,000 to be paid from the district’s Capital Reserve Fund, passed by a margin of 254 to 66. The second, which allows for the purchase of one 41-passenger bus for approximately $128,000 and a Chevy Suburban for approximately $50,000 to be paid from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund, passed 255 to 69.
The district is eligible to be reimbursed for about 75% of the cost of the bus and Suburban through state school transportation aid. None of these vehicle purchases will affect the 2022-23 school tax levy.