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School Enrollment Falls Again

School enrollment figures for school districts across the state were updated recently for the 2018-2019 school year (last year) and the Whitehall School District’s total enrollment fell to 699 students. This is the lowest number since I have tracked this and the first time the number has fallen below 700.

The complete enrollment figures for 2018-2019 school year can be found here.

I have been tracking and reporting on the enrollment for a number of years. To put this number of 699 students into historical context I have updated my yearly enrollment chart below:

School Year 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13
Students 885 860 858 845 815 779 753 742 755
School Year 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19
Students 757 736 736 758 708 699

The district has now reached the lowest enrollment since I have been tracking this.

During this time, local property taxes have increased every year. State aid has also increased every year. Sadly, the Board of Education has not passed on any savings from this plummeting enrollment to the local taxpayers, in spite of increased state aid during the same time period.

Instead of managing the decline in enrollment to help the taxpayer, we are in this perpetual cycle where enrollment falls and taxes go up.

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A Greeting of Hope

Fr. Rendell Torres sends a greeting of hope to all parishioners and visitors of Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall, St. Ann’s in Fort Ann, and the Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts Landing.

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Village of Whitehall Posts Draft of Revitalization Plan


An artist’s conception of what the intersection of Route 4 and Route 22 could look like in the first draft of a revitalization plan prepared for the Village of Whitehall, by the engineering firm Chazen Companies. A traffic circle and monument dedicated to the founding of the U.S. Navy is envisioned. (Click image to see larger version.)

The Whitehall Village Board has posted on their website the first draft of a comprehensive revitalization plan. The plan tries to document the challenges that Whitehall faces, and the type of place Whitehall could be in 5 to 10 years, if the proposed changes take place.

By having a plan in place, the Village of Whitehall is in a better position to apply for grants to help it implement its objectives. The central questions facing Whitehall and its decline remain however. Why are businesses not coming to Whitehall? Why are school taxes so high and why have savings brought about by plummeting enrollment not been passed on to the taxpayers of the district? Why don’t the leaders of Whitehall see there is a direct correlation between the Village of Whitehall having the highest local tax rate in the county (not even considering the school taxes) and the decline the Village has experienced? Are the school district’s gross revenues outpacing its gross expenditures by roughly a million dollars per year having an effect on what people can spend on other things?

The plan does hope to capitalize on the almost 10,000 vehicles per day that pass through Whitehall on Routes 4 and 22. To begin, it envisions a roundabout or traffic circle at the intersection of Routes 4 and 22 with a monument dedicated to the founding of the U.S Navy which occurred in Whitehall.

It also envisions a pedestrian footbridge over the train tracks somewhere near the present Amtrak station which would connect Broadway (along Route 22) and Main street. This would allow residents to access the downtown park and businesses located on Main street without walking to opposite ends of Broadway to enter the historic downtown area.

There will be a public hearing about the plan on April 6, 2020.

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Stec Announces State Senate Candidacy


After announcing his plan this week to run for the state Senate, Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) met with all six Republican County Chairs that comprise the 45th Senate District. Left to right seated – Franklin Co GOP Chair Shelley Mulverhill, Assemblyman Dan Stec, Essex Co GOP Chair John Gereau, Standing are – Warren Co GOP Chair Mike Grasso, Washington Co GOP Chair Dan Boucher, St Lawrence Co GOP Chair Tom Jenison.

Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) has announced his candidacy for the state Senate’s 45th District. Senator Betty Little announced she’ll be stepping down in 2020 after serving 25 years in the Legislature. Stec, who has worked closely with Senator Little both as an Assemblyman and as a local elected official, has the experience and proven record necessary to ensure North Country residents continue receiving honest, accountable leadership in the Senate.

Stec issued the following statement on his campaign for Senate:

“I’m proud to announce my candidacy today for state Senate. With the news of Senator Little’s retirement, it’s so important that we elect someone that understands the issues we face, and has the experience and record of fighting on our behalf.

“My top priorities have always been defending our values and fighting for common-sense solutions to the challenges we face. This is why I’ve partnered with local law enforcement to oppose the bail reforms instituted by Senate and Assembly Democrats. It’s why I opposed giving drivers’ licenses, ‘free’ college tuition to illegal immigrants and other initiatives that put the rights of criminals before the well-being of our communities.

“As an Assemblyman, I helped pass the first countywide EMS bill for Essex County – the first of its kind in the state. I championed the constitutional amendment to strip pensions from corrupt politicians and shepherded three other constitutional amendments that were important to the residents of the North Country. I have and will continue to make investments in important infrastructure like roads, water, sewer, broadband and cell service critical to our economy and public safety a high priority.

“This is the proven record of advocacy and accomplishment I want to bring to the state Senate. With one-party control, we need someone who will push back against the radical liberal tax-and spend agenda that crushes our communities. We need someone who will work to achieve solutions to our problems that reflect our needs and values. We need someone who will continue Senator Little’s strong legacy as an honest, hardworking elected official.

“As our next state Senator, that’s exactly what I will do.”

The 45th Senate District includes all of Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Warren Counties, as well as parts of St. Lawrence and Washington Counties. Stec’s Assembly District comprises the entirety of Warren and Essex Counties, as well as the northern parts of Saratoga and Washington Counties. He was elected to represent the district in 2012. Prior to his becoming Assemblyman, Stec was the Queensbury Town Supervisor and Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

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School District Election Results

The vote totals for the recent school budget and board seats were:

Budget Proposition to approve $16,849,365 budget for 2019-2020:
Yes – 145
No – 16

Bus Proposition to approve $258,500 to purchase a 65-passenger bus and a 41-passenger bus and a van:
Yes – 143
No – 18

Board Of Education Election (Top 2 candidates)

Carrianne Arquette: 147 votes – Winner 3 year term
Roxanne Waters: 128 votes – Winner 3 year term

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Whitehall School Enrollment Continues Long Decline

School enrollment figures for school districts across the state were updated recently for the 2017-2018 school year (last year) and the Whitehall School District’s total enrollment fell to 708 students. This was a drop of 50 students from the 758 enrolled during the 2016-2017 year.

The complete enrollment figures for 2017-2018 school year can be found here.

I have been tracking and reporting on the enrollment for a number of years. To put this number of 708 students into historical context I have updated my yearly enrollment chart below:

School Year 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13
Students 885 860 858 845 815 779 753 742 755
School Year 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18
Students 757 736 736 758 708

Total overall enrollment is now down 20% since the 2004-2005 school year. While there was a short-lived increase in students between 2012 and 2017, the trend is quite persistent. The district has now reached the lowest enrollment since I have been tracking this.

During this time, local property taxes have increased every year. The Board of Education has not passed on any savings from this plummeting enrollment to the local taxpayers, in spite of increased state aid during the same time period.

For far too long this has not been discussed in planning for the district. A large building campaign has begun and another year of tax increases is being voted on. Now is the time to start planning for more enrollment decreases because that has been the trend for the last 14 years.

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Free Recycling to End at Transfer Station

The company that runs the Whitehall Transfer Station has announced that recycling taken from trash haulers will no longer be free.

A 15 lb bag or bin of recycling will now cost $2.25 and a 30 lb bag or bin will cost $4.50.

The company sites “increasing costs” and “loss of global recycling markets” for these new charges.

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School Board Election Uncontested as Two Run for Two Seats

The deadline for submitting petitions to run for the Whitehall School board has passed. The two incumbents, who have their terms expiring, both submitted petitions to seek three year terms.

Carrianne Arquette and Roxanne Waters are the only two candidates who will have their names on the ballot. This does not prevent a write-in candidate from running, but as of this time, only two candidates will be running for the two open seats. The election will be held on Tuesday, May 21st.

The voters will also vote on the district’s proposed $16,894,365 budget.

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School Board Proposes 2019-2020 Budget

At the regular April meeting, the Whitehall school board presented the 2019 -2020 school budget that will go before the voters in May. The board has adopted a total budget of $16,894,365 which is $375,266 over this years budget. Because the budget relies on $316,000 taken from reserves, the total tax levy increase is only .51 percent. The district is anticipating a 2.94 percent increase in state aid.

The district has $6.6 million in reserve funds. $4.8 of which are intended to be used for an upcoming building project that has already been approved by the voters.

Residents of the district can vote on the budget, Tuesday, May 21st.

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Economic Development Grants Announced by Governor

Today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that more than $763 million in economic and community development funding has been awarded through Round VIII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. A number of worthwhile local projects received funding:


File photo of Rogers Memorial Park in Bolton. The Town of Bolton will be receiving funds from the Regional Economic Development Council initiative for additional improvements to Rogers Memorial Park.

Town of Bolton: $600,000 for Rogers Memorial Park Waterfront Sustainability improvements.

Town of Bolton: $1,000,000 for improvements to the Town’s wastewater treatment process.

Town of Granville: $250,000 to construct a northern segment of the Slate Valley Rail Trail linking miles of family friendly, accessible trail with points north and south of the Village of Granville. The trail is envisioned as an indispensable link that will ultimately connect northeastern Washington County with the Empire State Trail in Whitehall, New York; and with the D&H rail Trail north linking in through Hampton New York to Poultney/Castleton and south to Pawlet/Rupert Vermont.

Town of Hague: $230,625, to install new control systems and perform other upgrades at their Dodd Hill and Cape Cod pumping stations. These wastewater treatment improvements will help prevent nutrients entering nearby waterways, including phosphorus that may lead to harmful algal blooms.

Town of Lake George: $657,028 to consolidate two of their pump stations, making upgrades to the lower pump station and installing sewer pipes and force mains. The benefit of this project includes protecting Lake George from additional phosphorus that can lead to harmful algal blooms.

Village of Lake George: $100,000 to complete a study on groundwater infiltration into the sanitary sewer collection system.

Town of Ticonderoga: $30,000 for upgrades to the Town’s wastewater treatment plant’s HVAC system.

Village of Whitehall: $300,000 to be used to remove debris, and design and construct a public parking facility on the site of the former Flat Iron Building.

Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District: $65,200 to expand its county-wide roadside erosion and sediment control program by stabilizing 15-20 acres of bare roadside ditches. The project will improve water quality by reducing sediment and debris runoff entering water bodies from roadside ditch erosion.

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Whitehall School District Special Election Results

This past week, the Whitehall School District had a special election on two ballot propositions.

Bond Proposition # 1 asked the voters to approve $16,592,061 in total costs to construct alterations and improvements to all district buildings and the sites thereof.

Bond Proposition # 2 asked the voters to approve an additional $1,908,449 in taxes and the issuance of bonds in the event Proposition # 1 was approved.

The total cost of the project is expected to be: $18,500,510.

The final vote totals were:

Ballot Proposition Yes No
Bond Proposition # 1 110 12
Bond Proposition # 2 97 25

Both Ballot Propositions Passed.

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School District Proposes $18.5 Million in Spending: December 11th Vote Scheduled

The Whitehall School District, which Huletts Landing is part of, is proposing an $18.5 million school upgrade project with most of the money coming from tax dollars held in the District’s capital reserve fund and new taxes which they anticipate, but cannot guarantee, will be reimbursed by the state of New York.

The $18.5 million project will be put in front of voters in a special referendum on December 11, 2018 in two bond propositions.

Bond Proposition # 1 will ask voters to approve $16,592,061 in total costs to construct alterations and improvements to all district buildings and the sites thereof. Included are replacements of roofs, fire alarm enhancements, new boilers and HVAC systems, window replacements, high school science rooms, relocation of the elementary school office and a new high school bleacher system and outdoor track. Bond Proposition # 1 will authorize spending $4,838,921 that the district holds in a capital reserve fund from taxes that have been placed in the fund since 2014. It will further authorize a tax of $11,753,140 and the issuance of bonds to be paid by the district in case the state does not reimburse this amount.

Because of Whitehall’s economic status the district is eligible for 78.2 % of every dollar that is spent on this project to be reimbursed by the state of New York. This reimbursement is not technically guaranteed and that is why voters are voting to tax and issue bonds for any amounts above what is held in the district’s capital reserve fund. State aid can fluctuate or change.

Bond Proposition # 2 will ask voters to approve an additional $1,908,449 in taxes and the issuance of bonds in the event Proposition # 1 is approved.

The total cost of the project is expected to be: $18,500,510.

Between both bond propositions, voters are being asked to approve spending the $4,838,921 that the district holds in its capital reserve fund and a total of $13,661,589 in new taxes.

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Three Candidates Running for Two School Board Seats


The following individuals are running for the two seats on the Whitehall school board that will open up this year:

Carrianne Arquette
Frank Barber, Jr (Current Board President running for reelection.)
Stiling Knight

The two board seats up for election this year are of different lengths. One is for a full three-year term and the other is for a one-year unexpired term of Jason Hoagland who resigned without completing his full term.

I will send questionnaires out to all the candidates shortly and will post their answers here.