BY ANDY GARDNER

North Country This Week

MASSENA -- Massena school district voters will decide by mail-in ballot on a $56.6 million 2020-21 budget that would raise taxes by 1.99%.

That also includes using $2.26 million in fund balance to balance the budget, according to a slideshow from Superintendent Pat Brady.

The proposed spending plan would add two high school special education teachers, which Brady says is funded by not replacing two elementary teachers. It would also reduce the busing radius around the junior high to allow more students to take the bus, which could require an additional bus route. They will also add a half-time math/English language arts teacher assistant at Madison Elementary, and a CPSE special education teacher and 5.5 teacher assistants for new CPSE classrooms.

CPSE is short for Committee on Pre-School Education. 

“Previously the St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES provided this pre-school special education program for our students but are no longer able to do so,” Brady said in an email. “We are therefore required to bring the program back to the district.” 

The district’s health insurance cost will slightly increase, from $11.47 million last year to $11.94 million in the proposed budget.

The employee retirement system payment will rise $18,108, but that’s offset by a $20,603 decrease in the teacher retirement system payment.

Total state aid will increase by $582,010 to $35,195,659 for the year, or a 1.68% hike, Brady’s slideshow said.

Voting on the budget will be by mail-in ballot.

On Wednesday, May 27, about 9,000 absentee ballots were mailed from the Massena Post Office. 

These ballots comprise those voters who received a postcard in the mail stating that one ballot per household would be mailed and that additional ballots could be obtained by contacting the district clerk at (315) 764-3700, ext. 3008 or by email at cprairie@mcs.k12.ny.us .

Additional ballot requests have been received and are still coming in daily.  They will be mailed promptly. 

“Please be patient in receiving your household's second or third ballot in the mail by allowing time for the post office to deliver them,” the District Clerk’s Office said.

People should also note that the return envelope is pre-stamped. There will also be a secure drop box for ballots located in the main doorway of the Central Administration Building, beginning Friday, May 29 through Tuesday, June 9, Mondays through Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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