BY MATT LINDSEYNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — Potsdam Central School’s $41.1 million 2024-25 budget increases the tax  levy 2.5 percent.

The $41,161,611 budget will see an additional $380,073 raised from the tax levy, for a total of $15,436,444. The district expects $37,891,949 in state funding, which is $3,229,261 more than last year. 

The district will use fund balance appropriation of $2,871,6622, the second year in a row that they’ve been able to lower this appropriation.

PCS Superintendent Jerry Griffin said budget increases were mostly attributed to contractual expenses for staff, higher health insurance costs and contributions to the retirement system.

As part of the budget, the school plans to add a mental health counseling position at the elementary school, and increase services to students with disabilities.

Technology upgrades, occupational therapy services and enrichment opportunities like more field trips, P2Peeps and Arts in Education are also in the plans.

PCS will look to increase its number of bus monitors and will upgrade communication systems on all its buses.

Griffin said some positions were transferred from COVID-Relief funding to the general fund. Those included social worker summer services, middle and high school summer programming, three teacher assistant positions, a teacher aide job, and an elementary school counselor position.

“The costs associated with our capital project, including interest and principal payments, totaling $1,021,521, also increased from the previous year,” Griffin said.

This was part of the district financial plan, as this increase in expenses is offset by an increase in revenue in the form of building aid.

“This is the capital project that was approved in the winter of 2021 and is what you see when you drive by our buildings in terms of construction,” the super said

Last year, in the 2023-2024 budget development year, the PCS budget dropped by over $1 million in expenses and revenue due to the bond payment being paid off from a capital project fifteen years ago.

“This year, the new debt from the new project is part of our budget,” he said. “We receive our state building aid and use reserve funds to cover these costs.”

This year, along with the budget and bus proposition, district residents will be voting on three board vacancies. Community members running for the Board of Education are: Joshua Fiske, David DeRushia, Lynzie Schulte, and Dora Richter.

The school budget vote and Board of Education election will be held on Tuesday, May 21, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the Potsdam High School Auditorium.