Kendall school budget increases taxes 1%

KENDALL – The Kendall school district is proposing a $19,980,729 budget for 2021-22 that would increase taxes by 1 percent.

The budget represents a 13.5 percent increase in spending or by $2,377,133, up from $17,603,596 in 2020-21. Of that increase, $1,550,762 is due to the debt service for a capital project and that payment is covered with state building aid, Julie Christensen, the district superintendent, stated in Kendall’s school newsletter.

The other $751,371 is an increase in operational funding for a district with 200 employees.

Kendall’s budget raises taxes by $49,155, from $4,915,501 to $4,964,656. Kendall is projecting a tax rate of $16.07 per $1,000 of assessed property for property owners. That is down from $16.48 in 2020-21.

“We anticipate all programs and services, extracurricular activities, funds for 1:1 devices and staffing ratios will remain consistent with pre-COVID-19 patterns,” Christensen wrote in the district newsletter. “We are very pleased to provide the opportunity for five days of instruction and no budgetary reductions during such uncertain times.”

Kendall’s budget is 74 percent funded through state aid. The district is receiving a $237,034 boost from the state in operating aid or Foundation Aid, which Christensen said is the first increase in that category in several years.

Kendall district residents will vote on the budget from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 18 at the Kendall Elementary School Gym, 1932 Kendall Rd. Eligible voters need to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old and a resident of the district for at least 30 days immediately prior to the vote.

Besides the budget, residents will vote on Proposition No. 2 – Transportation Bus Reserve Fund Usage. Kendall is asking for permission to purchase transportation vehicles to replace existing vehicles in the transportation program of the district, at a sum not to exceed $250,000. The district said there will be no additional taxes with this proposal.

Proposition 3 is the election of a five-year term board member. There are three candidates for one five-year term. Charles Patt, the incumbent, is seeking re-election. He works at the Kendall Town Highway Department and owns Patt Bros. Farm.

The other candidates include David Warren, a parts manager for Auto Zone and retired manufacturing engineering manager, and Bob McGregor, a retired state corrections officer.

For more information on the Board of Education candidates, click here.