BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City School District tax payers will see no increase in spending or taxes in the proposed 2024 budget.

The district’s $55,261,205 budget  has not seen a change in the tax levy for five consecutive years.

“Our decision to maintain the school budget with a 0% increase in spending and a 0% increase on the tax levy reflects our commitment to the financial well-being of our community. This approach allows us to continue providing quality education while being mindful of the economic realities facing the tax payers of the Ogdensburg City School District,” Superintendent Kevin Kendall said.

Kendall said the budget keeps all of the school’s existing programs.

Last year a change in assessments and a decision to keep the levy flat led to a substantial drop in the tax rate from $27.49 to $22.29 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Once the final assessment roll is calculated the rate could drop further.

Voters will have a chance to weigh in on the spending plan at the budget vote which is set for May 21 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Edgar A. Newell, II Memorial Golden Dome located at Ogdensburg Free Academy, 1100 State Street, Ogdensburg.

The community will also select  two Board of Education members.

Running for the open positions are Ronald Johnson  and Douglas Loffler.

Each position will be for a five year team, beginning July 1, 2024.

A public hearing is set for May 8, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Ogdensburg Free Academy Cafeteria B.

Voter registration will be held from 12 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, in the Ogdensburg Free Academy Edgar A. Newell, II Memorial Golden Dome, 1100 State Street in the City of Ogdensburg, New York.

MORRISTOWN CENTRAL

BY MATT LINDSEY

North Country This Week

MORRISTOWN — Morristown Central district voters will be voting on a $11.5 million budget that raises taxes 2.34%.

The total increase in the tax levy is $96,122 and the total amount being raised by taxpayers this year is $4,296,351.

The budget is .24% higher than last year, school officials said.

Proposition two will establish a new 10-year capital reserve fund, not to exceed $5,000,000 that would be used toward renovations and additions to all district facilities.

Proposition Three would authorize to levy and collect an annual tax, year after year, separate and apart from the annual school district budget, in the amount of $2,266 (in addition to the current annual appropriation of $61,513 for a new total of $63,779 annually), which shall be paid to the Morristown Public Library for the support and maintenance of the library.

There are three board member vacancies with three-year terms. Candidates are Jeffrey LaJoy, Scott Ritchie and Chelsea VanArnam.

Voting takes place May 21 from noon to 8 p.m. in the main lobby of the school.

HAMMOND CENTRAL

BY MATT LINDSEY

North Country This Week

HAMMOND — Hammond district voters will be voting on a $9.7 million budget that raises taxes 4.34%.

The total increase in the tax levy is $178,417. The budget is $254,706 more than last year, school officials said.

Four Teacher Aide positions will be cut due to programming changes.

Voters will be asked to approve the purchase of new buses. Two give-year seats are up for grabs with Donald Ceresoli Jr. and Daniel Pease running for those seats.

Voting takes place May 21 from 1:30-8 p.m. in the school cafeteria.