ALBANY – State Comptroller
Thomas DiNapoli released his latest school district fiscal stress monitoring
report on Wednesday, showing a marked improvement in the finances of the
Poughkeepsie City School District.
In the past, the district was listed on the fiscal danger list, but it
has now been classified as “no designation” with a score of
18.3 percent. The higher the number the worse off a district is considered.
Districts with a rating of 65 percent of total points would be classified
as having significant stress. Districts with more than 45 percent of total
points are listed as moderate stress.
Districts with up to 25 percent are listed as susceptible to fiscal stress.
Poughkeepsie School Board Vice President Randy Johnson, Sr. said their improved situation is a result of hard work.
“We have strong financial progress under the leadership of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nicole’ Williams, who had dealt with huge turnover in our business department and also signals a shift with the district’s financing improving from year to year with strategic board oversight,” he said.
Johnson said they are not completely out of the woods yet. He said the City of Poughkeepsie owns the school district back taxes and PILOT payments.
Districts in moderate stress in the Hudson Valley include the Bedford Central, Eldred Central and East Ramapo Central districts.
Schools susceptible to fiscal stress include Rhinebeck Central, Livingston Manor Central and New Rochelle City.
