Joseph Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Business, presented a preliminary draft budget to the Pine Bush School Board at its February 7 meeting.

Lang said the budget will add new staff, including special education and speech teachers. The budget will also add eight custodial workers to bring their workload in line with that of other school districts.

The budget will also include new chrome books and laptops. Band instruments will see an increase of $95,000. A new expense will be the district’s contribution to the $165 million BOCES capital project. The 2023-24 budget will show a $325,000 increase to cover the district’s share. That figure will rise to $450,000 the following year and level out at $600,000 annually for the rest of the 20-year funding period.

Lang said that he hopes to receive New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s state aid figure by April 1. He noted that while the Consumer Price Index stands at 8%, he expects the tax rate to be approximately 1.5%.

During the Public Comment period, Kent Sherman, a former Pine Bush High School principal, requested that the district honor two alumni, Melissa Bratton and Chris Kirby, who were killed in the 9/11 attack. He said that he has made several attempts to have them remembered. Board Vice President Cara Robertson, sitting in for President Gretchen Meier, said the administration would get back to him.

The board will next meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 28, at Circleville Middle School.