Budget & Taxes

Residents asked to reconsider proposed budget on June 18

After careful consideration, the Board of Education will present the original budget proposal for district shareholders for a revote on June 18, after it was defeated at the polls on May 21. Berne- Knox-Westerlo residents will decide on a proposed $26,352,376 spending plan for the 2024-25 school year. Under the proposal, spending would increase by 2.77% from the current year.

The proposed budget carries a 5.09% tax levy increase, which is above the district’s assigned tax levy “cap” of 4.35%. Budget approval requires a supermajority of votes (60% plus one). The May 21 vote fell eight votes short of the supermajority needed.

A postcard will be mailed to community residents to provide important information related to the revote on June 18. In addition, for those residents that did not receive the original budget newsletter for the May 21 vote, please contact your student(s) main office to arrange for pickup, or we can place the original newsletter in your student(s) backpack. An electronic version of the newsletter can also be found here.

“After reviewing the initial planning and preparation for the May vote, the Board believed adopting the same budget for a revote was the right course of action, reinforcing the need for our afterschool student programs, student support services, keeping transportation services in tact, and also maintaining the School Resource Officer program.” said Superintendent of Schools Dr.
Mundell.

What happens if the budget is defeated on June 18?

If the 2024-25 budget does not pass on June 18, the district will be obligated to operate on a contingency budget for the 2024-25 school year. Under a contingent budget, the Board of Education is forced to consider expenditures deemed to be necessary to operate and maintain a school district. By moving to a contingency budget, several programs and services will be dramatically
changed within our district. These expenditures include, but are not limited to:

* Elimination of Bulldog Club
* Removal of School Resource Officer
* Elimination of select transportation services
* Elimination of extracurricular activities/events
* Reduced classroom support and increased class sizes
* Elimination of athletics and clubs
* Elimination of all maintenance projects and equipment purchases
* Elimination of community use of the facilities that have a district cost

Budget News

2024-25 school year budget development timeline (Updated as of May 7, 2024)

• January-March, 2024: Administration and Board of Education work to develop a budget for 2024-25 school year
• April 22: Board of Education adopts proposed 2024-25 school year budget
• April 22: Petitions to seek Board of Education seats are due with the District Clerk
• May 7: Public Budget Hearing on the proposed 2024-25 school year budget, 7 p.m.
• May 21: Annual Budget and Board of Education Vote, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Elementary School Cafeteria

2024-25 Budget Conversations

• 2024-25 BKW Budget Newsletter
• 2024-25 Budget Proposal
• Budget and Tax Information
• Community Letter on Budget (3/19)
• Superintendent Message to Families (3/18)
• Budget Presentation (3/18)
• Superintendent Message to Families (3/7)
• Budget Presentation (2/25)
• Superintendent Message to Families (2/8)

2024-25 district budget and propositions vote, school board elections May 21

BKW Central School District residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 21, to vote on a proposed $26,352,376 million budget for the 2024-25 school year. Voting will be held from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria. 

2024-25 Budget Documents

• 2024-25 BKW Budget Newsletter
• 2024-25 Proposed Revenue
• Property Tax Report Card
• Berne Exemption Report
• Knox Exemption Report
• New Scotland Exemption Report
• Rensselaerville Exemption Report
• Westerlo Exemption Report
• Wright Exemption Report
• Graduation Data (August 2023)
• BKW Student Digital Resources
• Required Administrative Compensation Information 2023-24
• 2024-25 Three-Part Budget
• Three-Part Budget – Expenditure w/ Contingent 2024-25 
• Enrollment Data (2022-23)
• ELL Data
• Graduation Rate Data
• Fiscal Transparency Report