School district’s proposed budget set for public vote

The Dryden Central School District (DCSD) is set for another year of taking its proposed budget to the public for a vote.

DCSD’s proposed budget for the 2023-24 school year totals $46,827,740. This is a 3.35% increase, or $1,515,834 more, over the 2022-23 budget ($45,311,906).

Josh Bacigalupi noted the proposed budget is a rollover of last year’s budget. A key addition to the proposed budget is the remaining COVID relief funds for DCSD, which are $2 million.

“The only real big increases are those that are contractually related to salaries and benefits,” Bacigalupi said, noting the addition of a social worker for Dryden Middle School.

Expenditures for contracted salaries total $750,000 in the proposed budget, with items including retirement, health and dental insurance and Social Security set at $275,000.

Bacigalupi said that DCSD is going with the full tax levy limit for the proposed budget. This comes out to a 3.1% increase, or $600,000 more than last year’s budget.

“It isn’t [an] exceptionally large [increase],” Bacigalupi said, noting that the increase affects residents of the town and village of Dryden, as well as the village of Freeville residents.

Bacigalupi said recent inflation costs were reflected in the proposed budget. Aside from an increase in salaries and benefits, the superintendent noted there was a 30% spike in terms of costs for diesel fuel and school supplies.

“It’s certainly had an impact, for sure,” Bacigalupi said.

Area residents can vote on the 2023-24 budget in person from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 16 at the Dryden Middle and High School at 118 Freeville Rd.

Bacigalupi mentioned that DCSD has been “thankful and grateful” to the community that has continually supported the district by approving budgets in the past.

“By doing so, it ensures that our students and the future of our district are secured with the resources it needs in terms of programming, staff members and support for students so they can be successful,” Bacigalupi said.

A full breakdown of DCSD’s proposed 2023-24 budget can be found on the district’s website.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Emma Frisch to hold ‘Seasonal Family Almanac’ presentation

Freeville-based author Emma Frisch will hold a presentation on her new book, “Seasonal Family Almanac,” at 11 a.m. May 6 at the Southworth Library in the village of Dryden.

The presentation will include Frisch making a recipe and a craft from her book.

Former village of Dryden mayor to present history of Village Hall

Former village of Dryden mayor and current village resident Bob Watrous will conduct a presentation on the history of the Village Hall at 7 p.m. May 24.

The presentation will take place inside the Village Hall at 16 South St. in Dryden. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Watrous’s presentation will be on the same night as the Dryden Town Historical Society’s (DTHS) annual meeting.

With the Village Hall recently going through a year-long remodeling process, Watrous will discuss the history of the building, including when it housed the fire department and the village offices.

The presentation will share interesting stories about the building and show when the fire department made its move to its new building on Neptune Drive in the 1970s. 

The evening will also include a tour of the new Village Hall to highlight its improvements. DTHS will vote in two new trustees during its meeting.

The presentation and meeting will include refreshments. Free parking is available, and the building is handicap accessible.

Dryden recreation department to host adult softball games

The town of Dryden recreation department will host adult softball pickup games this summer.

The games will be held at Cassavant Elementary School every Tuesday at 6 p.m. between June 6 and Aug. 15.

Participants ages 16 and older can be part of the pickup games. Teams will be formed before each game.

There is no fee for the program, but registration at drydenrec.recdesk.com is required.

Registration open for Upstate Lacrosse Association

Registration for the Upstate Lacrosse Association (ULA) is now open.

The ULA’s third and fourth grade division will have games every Monday between June 12 and July 24, and practice every Thursday between May 25 and July 27.

The ULA’s fifth and sixth grade division will have games every Tuesday between June 13 and July 25, and practice every Thursday between May 25 and July 27.

The league provides an opportunity for youth lacrosse players to learn and develop their skills, play organized and competitive games and have fun playing lacrosse with friends.

Sites for the league’s lacrosse games will be in the Dryden, Cortland and Syracuse area. The league’s schedule has yet to be determined.

To register for either division in the ULA, go to drydenrec.recdesk.com.