Budget & Finance

Budget | Finance/Tax Collection

The BCSD Business Office is located in the high school’s C wing. Overseeing the office is Chief Business and Financial Officer John McPhillips, who along with his staff, handles the business end of running the school district. They serve the community and they serve district employees. Have a question about your health insurance, but you’re not sure who to call? Maybe it’s a retirement question or you need to process a donation for an extra classroom activity? Please use the information on this page to contact the Business Office team!

Budget Development Calendar 

Proposed Budget Documents and Financial Information

The following documents will be posted here as a proposed budget is developed between February and April. The budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21. 

2023-24 Budget Information 

• Total Budget: $106,691,303
• Spending Increase: 3.89%
• Tax Levy Increase: 2.3%

Past Budgets & Bonds

View all past budget and bond results.

Budget Process

The district follows this general budgeting process each year. Dates and times may vary slightly year to year.

Fall

• District reviews long-range goals, enrollment projections.
• Administrators begin discussing budget priorities.

January

• Governor proposes Executive Budget. District reviews preliminary state aid projections.
• District estimates health care/retirement costs and other major cost drivers.

February

• District presents preliminary budget and identifies the initial gap between what is needed to continue all programs into the next year and projected revenues.

March

• By March 1, the District must submit its calculated maximum allowable tax levy under the state’s property tax cap.
• Board of Education (BOE) reviews administrative recommendations for budget expenses in various areas such as instruction, transportation, special education, facility, athletics, etc.

April

• BOE discussions continue on priority issues; legislative actions affecting revenue and expenditures; impact on instructional programs, staffing, and support operations.
• By April 1, the New York State Legislature must adopt a state budget. District updates its state aid projection.
• The BOE examines fund balance options to supplement revenues if needed.
• BOE adopts school budget proposal.

May

• Annual budget hearing. Budget information is mailed to all voters.
• Third Tuesday in May: BUDGET VOTE DAY

Voting Information and Eligibility

• Who can vote? To vote, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Bethlehem Central School District for at least 30 days prior to the vote. You do not need to be registered to vote.
• Voting is held in the upper gym at BCHS. The school is located at 700 Delaware Avenue. Park in the lot on Delaware Avenue, and use the main entrance on the Delaware Avenue side of the building.
• Absentee ballots are available for those who plan to pick them up at the district office (see below for more information on absentee ballots.)
• The district will conduct an anonymous exit survey of voters on the day of the vote. Please consider submitting this valuable feedback to the district.

Absentee Ballot Information

Absentee ballots are available at the link below or from the District Clerk, Brittany Barrett, and will be issued upon request to residents who will be out of town or unable to vote at the polls due to illness or disability.

Absentee Ballot Application and Instructions

You must complete an application to receive an absentee ballot. The application must be received by the District Clerk at least 7 days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Please mail or drop off your application to the below address.

Contact information:

Brittany Barrett, District Clerk, Bethlehem Central School District Educational Services Center, 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY, 12054, (518) 439-7098

Email:   voterinfo@bethlehemschools.org