Fred Gorman
SACHEM BUDGET VOTE IS
TUESDAY
MAY 21ST
You vote at your local
Elementary School
SACHEM BUDGET VOTE IS
TUESDAY
MAY 21ST
You vote at your local
Elementary School
VOTE YES and it will cost you $345 Per Year Forever
VOTE NO and it will cost you NOTHING
VOTE YES and it will cost you $345 Per Year Forever
VOTE NO and it will cost you NOTHING
The FACTS About Sachem’s School Budget
- The District increased spending from $363,861,428 to $377,326.91 that’s over $13 Million.
- Sachem’s budget pierces the cap & raise taxes $10,122,951, That’s 4.8% or $344.08 per taxpayer.
- Proposed Property School Taxes is $ 8,072.49 per taxpayer.
- Sachem intends to Bank $53 Million! That’s your money ($2,259.46 per household) sitting in their Bank.
- Sachem underspent this year’s (2023-2024) budget by an estimated $21 Million.
- Sachem underspent the last years (2022-2023) budget by $23,754,454.
- The district will reserve an additional $11,979,365 this year. That’s more than the tax increase
See Sachem’s Fund Balance and Reserves Spreadsheet below
Why You Should Vote NO
- Once again, the district over budgeted, so they can underspend like in past years.
- The purpose of the tax cap is to prevent districts from excessively taxing communities to build up funds.
- The current five-year plan of the district to overtax the community to
increase reserves is unfair to the students and taxpayers of today. - The tax hikes are unnecessary, considering the district has $53,084,065 in reserves.
- The Board of Education pierced the 2% tax cap for no reason. Rather than reserving an additional $11,979,365 to reserves, it could have used those funds in this year’s budget to reduce taxes
- The district could have easily come under the tax cap, by simply switching the Assigned Appropriated Fund Balance and Unassigned Fund Balance numbers (see Fund Balance and Reserves Spreadsheet below). Likewise, If the budget fails, the district can do the same without making any cuts to staff or programs.
- Even the Sachem Board of Education was divided on it, with the budget passing by a 5-4 vote.
Why You Should Vote NO
- Once again, the district over budgeted, so they can underspend like in past years.
- The purpose of the tax cap is to prevent districts from excessively taxing communities to build up funds.
- The current five-year plan of the district to overtax the community to
increase reserves is unfair to the students and taxpayers of today. - The tax hikes are unnecessary, considering the district has $53,084,065 in reserves.
- The Board of Education pierced the 2% tax cap for no reason. Rather than reserving an additional $11,979,365 to reserves, it could have used those funds in this year’s budget to reduce taxes
- The district could have easily come under the tax cap, by simply switching the Assigned Appropriated Fund Balance and Unassigned Fund Balance numbers (see Fund Balance and Reserves Spreadsheet below). Likewise, If the budget fails, the district can do the same without making any cuts to staff or programs.
- Even the Sachem Board of Education was divided on it, with the budget passing by a 5-4 vote.
Fund Balance and Reserves
| Fund Balance & Reserves | 6/30/2021 | 6/30/2022 | 6/30/2023 | 6/30/2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Retirement Reserve | $ 13,440,352 | $ 14,214,208 | $ 11,358,901 | $ 10,727,680 |
| Teacher Retirement Reserve | $ 4,090,097 | $ 4,847,357 | $ 3,658,373 | $ 3,658,373 |
| Workers Compensation Reserve | $ 8,635,484 | $ 8,649,732 | $ 8,920,429 | $ 8,920,429 |
| Employee Benefit Acrued Liabiltiy Reserve | $ 8,785,576 | $ 9,344,695 | $ 8,598,227 | $ 8,598,227 |
| Capital Reserve | $ 6,261,748 | $ 12,267,882 | $ 6,680,725 | $ 6,680,725 |
| Assigned Appropriated Fund Balance | $ 3,400,000 | $ – | $ 9,200,000 | $ 9,200,000 |
| Assigned Unappropriated: Encumbrances | $ 1,708,034 | $ 4,151,719 | $ 755,838 | $ 755,838 |
| Nonspendable (Prepaid Expense) | $ 250,000 | $ 250,000 | $ 250,000 | $ 250,000 |
| Unassigned Fund Balance | $ 13,614,236 | $ 13,999,963 | $ 14,554,454 | $ 11,979,356 |
| Total Fund Balance & Reserves | $ 60,185,527 | $ 67,725,556 | $ 63,976,947 | $ 60,770,628 |
Take Action
Say NO to Overbudgeting, Overspending
and Unnecessary Tax Increases
Tell the Board, it’s not your money!
Give it back to the taxpayers where it belongs!
Have Questions?
Contact Us!
Have Questions?
Contact Us!
Fred Gorman
Paid for by Fred Gorman, a Sachem School District Taxpayer.