We applaud the Republican members of the Amity Board of Education for attempting to fully fund the school district while protecting residents of all Amity communities from over-taxation.

Unfortunately, Democratic members of the Amity Board defeated that effort.

Here are the reasons why a NO VOTE on the Amity FY25-26 Budget was the RIGHT VOTE

 

Fact #1: Over the past 6 years, Amity budget surpluses have totaled over $13.5 million.

 

Why should you care? Every dollar of surplus is a dollar that residents must be taxed to cover. Every dollar of surplus is a dollar that cannot be spent on elementary schools, projects like Wolfe Park improvements, senior, veteran, and youth programs. Or simply to reduce your tax burden.

Fact #2: The 2.93% Amity Budget Increase is Deceptive.

 

Why should you care? In FY 25-26, Amity’s debt service has been reduced from $3.9 million to $2.6 million, resulting in an additional $1.3 million for use as Operating Expenditures. Therefore, the budget increase for Operating Expenditures is 5.62%. This is important because a 5.62% increase is 90% higher than a 2.93% increase.

 

Fact #3: The Real Increase is 9.4%

 

Why should you care? Moreover, the Real Increase in Operating Expenditure from the $50.8 million spent in FY2024-2025 to the $55.6 million budgeted in FY2025-2026 is an increase of 9.4%.

 

SUMMARY: Because of these facts, a 2.93% increase from budget to budget is unjustified and was Deserving of a NO VOTE. Nearly no budget increase at all would still have fully funded all of Amity’s requirements and helped taxpayers in all three Amity communities.

CONCLUSION: We applaud the Republican members of the Amity Board for attempting to fully fund the school district while trying to protect residents of all Amity communities from over-taxation. Unfortunately, Democratic members of the Amity Board defeated that effort.