Reminder to vote on May 20

Remember to vote this Saturday, May 20th, or to pick up an absentee ballot at York Town Hall.  You may visit the York School Department's FY24 Budget page at www.yorkschools.org/fy24-school-budget to access a digital copy of the Voters Guide and to learn more about the great things that the York School Department has accomplished over the past year. 

———Frequently Asked FY24 Budget Questions———

  1. What are the main facts about the proposed school budget?

    • The proposed operating budget is $40,076,447.  

    • The school department is returning $1,000,000 to offset the impact on property taxes.

    • The increase in the tax rate is 2.33%. This is far below the federal 2022-23 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 8.7%.

  2. When will York vote on the budget?

    • In-person voting by ballot will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at York High School.

    • Absentee ballots are available 30 days prior to the in-person voting day.

    • For more information, contact the York Town Clerk’s Office at 363-1000.

  3. What % of the budget is the school contracted and obligated to spend?

    • More than 85% of the overall school budget is dedicated to contractual obligations, including but not limited to salaries, benefits, operational costs for facilities, debt service, and transportation. 

    • The remainder of the budget is dedicated to other items such as textbooks, supplies, equipment, and field trips. This year most of these items were level funded. 

  4. Why does the York School Department have a fund balance (surplus) that allows them to return $1,000,000 to offset taxes?

    • The York School Department works diligently to avoid overspending our voter-approved budget in any school year. The school department does not want to end a budget year in a deficit situation. It is normal to have unspent money at the end of a school budget cycle.

  5. Why is the food service warrant article one dollar?

    • The state now pays for student meals through monthly reimbursement. This has made the program essentially self-funding. Students must still pay for ala carte items such as snacks and extra drinks.

  6. I have a question about the budget. Who can I contact?

    • Please submit any questions about the York School Department budget to admin@yorkschool.org or call the York School Department at (207) 363-3403.