BKW Central School District residents voted 295-108 on May 17, 2022 to approve a $24.69 million district budget for the 2022-23 school year. The approved spending plan totals $24,688,027 and represents a spending increase of 4.29 percent or $1,015,779 over the current year budget and a tax levy decrease of -0.5% or -$53,897.
Residents also, by a vote of 241-165, approved the spending of up to $410,000 to purchase the building and property located at 1772 Helderberg Trail. The property, located next to the school, includes: a 1.1-acre lot, zoned commercial/residential; a building with 2,400 square feet of space currently set up as office space and 1,900 square feet currently used as a residential area; a paved lot with 20 marked spaces and additional unmarked spaces; and a two-car garage.
The district will use $410,000 in left over fund balance from the current school year budget to finance the purchase – a one-time expense. The residential portion of the building will house the BKW business offices which are now located across the street in the bus garage building. The office portion of the building is now occupied by a nurse practitioner under Hilltown Healthcare, who would continue to rent the space but has announced plans to move to a new location.
Voter also approved by a vote of 307-100 the purchase of three (3) 72-passenger school buses and (2) smaller buses at a cost not to exceed $504,000. The district will use $150,000 from the Transportation Reserve Fund toward the purchases. The bus purchases are eligible for state aid.
Residents reelected Board of Education President Matthew Tedeschi (309 votes) and member Rebecca Miller (312 votes) to new three-year terms on the school board beginning July 1, 2022. The two candidates ran unopposed.