LEYDEN – Leyden’s votes approving its portions for the school district’s fiscal year 2020 operating and capital project budgets have been accepted as valid by the state Department of Secondary Education and state Department of Revenue.
According to Leyden Selectboard Chair Jeffrey Neipp, “conversations were had at the state level” that confirmed Leyden’s town votes would be approved by both departments as passing the Pioneer Valley Regional School District budget.
The town had previously voted to approve the $2,681.29 for its share of the capital budget during an Annual Town Meeting on May 18. At the meeting in May, Leyden did not approve its portion of the operating budget. The figure was readjusted to a lower amount in June, and during a Special Town Meeting on July 22, Leyden voted to approve the new figure of $790,103 for its portion of the school district’s operating budget.
The controversy surrounding the validity of the votes came about earlier this week when Tanya Gaylord, the director of finance for Pioneer, said the two votes were initially required to be taken at the same time, approving the total sum of $792,784.29. Because the votes were taken during separate Town Meetings, it called for special approval from the Department of Secondary Education and Department of Revenue.
Fortunately, Neipp said a meeting with Jay Sullivan, associate commissioner of school finance and district support for the state Department of Education and Department of Revenue, in Boston on Wednesday, confirmed that the school votes taken from both of the Leyden Town meetings are now accepted as valid.
“Leyden has now officially passed the full operating assessment as requested by the school committee,” Neipp said. “The capital vote taken at the Annual Town Meeting on May 18 was also approved.”
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264.