Schools adding to their budgets

Underfunded districts say they won’t increase tax levy

It’s budget season, and this year long underfunded school districts are adding to their budgets while promising no increase in the tax levy, while the richer districts are calling for the typical tax increases.

Guilderland, Mohonasen, Saratoga Springs, Shenendehowa, and South Colonie are among the school districts planning to increase the tax levy by about 2 to 3 percent.

Meanwhile, Troy and Schenectady are not increasing their tax levies (in Schenectady’s case, for the third year in a row), thanks to an increase in state funding to right the inequities in the funding system. But it’s not only city school districts: locally, Bethlehem and East Greenbush are proposing budgets with no change to the tax levy.

Albany’s board of education has proposed a 0.9 percent increase in tax levy while noting that it needs more state aid.

The vote will be held May 17.

Albany

Voters will consider a $288.2 million budget, which is an increase of $17.7 million over the current year. In addition to in

creasing the tax levy by 0.9 percent, the budget also spends $3.8 million from savings and benefits from a $15 million increase in state aid. Increased services include additional staff for sixth grade and up to six more CDTA tripper buses to support the district’s transition to a new middle school feeder pattern.

Also, the budget would pay for a playground for students at Albany International Center and the Dual Language Program, which are located at Edmund J. O’Neal School of Excellence, 50 Lark St. On the ballot, voters will separately decide whether to buy the land for the playground.

Other budget increases include more English as a New Language teachers, a speech therapist, more supervisors for sports, more custodians, an expansion to the Dual Language program, full restoration of the middle school grades at Tony Clement Center for Education, and maintenance needs.

There also will be two board seats up for election May 17. Members Ellen Krejci and Tabetha Wilson both are running for reelection.

Schenectady

Voters will consider a $239.2 million budget, which is an increase of $20 million over the current year, with no increase in the tax levy.

That’s due to an increase in state aid, for which Schenectady leaders fought for years.

The budget would add three special education teachers, two speech therapists, eight library media specialists and 29.5 positions to address school climate and safety at all levels, including “school safety officers.”

Other new positions include seven paraprofessionals who focus on improving attendance, six counselors and two social workers. Every school will have a librarian, counselor and two social workers on campus.

The budget also calls for an increase in modified sports at the middle schools and extended learning time at all schools. Also funded would be the secondary school redesign and a new literacy curriculum.

Voters will also decide whether to create a capital reserve fund, not to exceed $5 million, for building improvements. The board of education would decide how much money is deposited in the fund.

Voters will also elect two members to the board of education.

Troy

Voters will consider a $126.9 million budget, which is an increase of $4.6 million, but does not increase the tax levy.

The budget transfers $7 million to a fund for capital projects, which will help with the rising cost of the ongoing all-buildings modernization project due to inflation.

The district is using $2.5 million of the budget increase to maintain current programs, and another $2.1 million to add items. Those include: more elementary school teachers and assistants to keep class sizes low, more English as a New Language teachers due to student need, more supports for special education students and support for social/emotional needs at the middle school level.

Bethlehem

Voters will consider a $102.7 million budget, an increase of $661,000 with no increase in the tax levy. The budget also does not use savings.

The plan would continue all current programs while adding two social workers and a director of diversity, equity and inclusion to help the district implement DEI initiatives across all grades.

Voters will also decide whether to borrow money for four replacement buses at a total cost of $821,000. Three of the buses would be equipped for wheelchair use.

There are four candidates running for two seats on the board. Both incumbents are not running for reelection. The candidates are: Tamara Starr, John Walston, Robert Tietjen and Douglas Lloyd. A candidates forum will be held on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m.

East Greenbush

Voters will consider a $104.8 million budget, an increase of $1.3 million, with no tax levy increase.

The budget maintains all current programs and adds a K-2 special education teacher, an English as a New Language teacher, a library media specialist, new textbooks and playground equipment.

There will also be two propositions on the ballot. Voters will decide whether to replace eight buses for a total cost of $752,468, purchased from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund with no impact to taxpayers. Separately, voters will decide whether to create a new Capital Reserve Fund, not to exceed $5 million.

Voters would decide on any proposed purchases from the fund.

Voters will also elect three people to the Board of Education.

Guilderland

Voters will consider a $109.9 million budget, which is an increase of $5 million. The tax levy would increase 2.98 percent. This year, the tax cap would have allowed an increase of 3.2 percent.

District officials said they needed to spend more because contracted transportation services will cost much more next year, due to the nationwide shortage of bus drivers. Also driving up costs are new students with disabilities who need specialized education placements, officials said.

The budget would also reduce class sizes in eighth grade and expand the Altamont Elementary School library position.

COVID -related federal funds are not being used in the general fund, officials said, because they are short-term funds and should not be used for ongoing expenses.

Instead, the district is using the funding to provide additional academic intervention and counseling. Funds may also be used for classroom books, Chromebooks, musical instruments, weight room equipment and calculators for advanced high school math classes.

Funds also being earmarked for the repair and upgrade of HVAC systems and may be used to build outdoor classrooms.

Mohonasen

Voters will consider a $60.2 million budget, an increase of $3.7 million. The tax levy would increase by 2.74 percent. The district is also using $1.25 million in savings, up $50,000 from the current year, to stay within the tax cap.

The budget includes adding up to six elementary school teachers to reduce class sizes, a high school science teacher, two music teachers, two alternative education teachers, and teaching assistants to support academic growth and socialemotional needs.

The rest of the budget increase is due to raises, health care costs, and an increase in the cost of fuel and other items effected by inflation, officials said.

The owner of a house assessed at $150,000 may see a tax increase of $84.04. Voters will also decide on a $640,000 bus proposition.

Saratoga Springs

Voters will consider a $137.1 million budget, which is a $3.5 million increase. The tax levy would increase by 2.9 percent. In taxes, the increase is estimated to add 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed property. The budget would maintain the current programs.

Voters will also decide whether to spend $1.1 million on 10 buses and, separately, on a facilities bond proposition for two front loaders, at a cost of $460,000.

Shenendehowa

Voters will consider a $194.3 million budget, which is an increase of $7.2 million. The tax levy would increase 1.87 percent, but the actual tax rate is expected to go down slightly. The owner of a house assessed at $300,000 would likely see a $36 decrease in their tax bill, officials estimated.

The budget would add a student support counselor for middle school students, English as a New Language staff, and extra support personnel for Algebra 1A. The budget would also expand the extended day kindergarten program, add Chromebooks for all students in grades two through five and add iPads for kindergartners and first graders.

South Colonie

Voters will consider a $113.4 million budget, which is an increase of $5.4 million. The tax levy would increase 2.42 percent, below the tax cap of 2.93 percent.

The budget maintains the current programs and adds academic supports.

The owner of a house assessed at $200,000 will likely pay $80.52 more in school taxes next year under the proposed budget, officials estimated.

Voters will also decide whether to replace 11 buses at a cost not to exceed $1.1 million. In addition, voters will consider whether to buy 1015 Watervliet Shaker Road for $1.9 million, replacing a previous proposed land purchase on Broderick Street. District officials have determined they cannot build on as much of the Broderick Street land as previously thought, due to environmental factors, and the purchase has not been finalized. The new location would be used instead for a bus garage and maintenance facility. Officials estimate the new site would reduce construction costs by $1.5 million.

Voters will also elect candidates to fill two open seats on the Board of Education.