Three propositions to go before voters on May 20
The Guilderland Central School District Board of Education adopted a $127,547,392 budget for the 2025-26 school year during their Tuesday, April 8 meeting. This represents a $2,354,575, or 1.88 percent, increase in spending over the current year. If approved, the tax levy would increase by 2.22 percent, which is at the district’s levy limit, as defined by New York State’s tax levy cap legislation.
The proposed spending plan aims to strike a balance between maintaining existing educational programs and introducing new services, where necessary. The district is navigating a complicated financial environment, where meeting the needs of our students in a time of fiscal uncertainty is at the center of budget decision making. Factors that are beyond the district’s control, such as changes in enrollment, essentially flat state aid and increased operating costs, are having a significant impact on the budget for 2025-2026.
This budget aligns with the district’s objectives of empowering each and every student to achieve success, while also keeping an eye on its financial future, by:
- maintaining existing class size guidelines, which allow for individual attention and improved academic performance;
- preserving programs and services that engage students in a variety of ways, to encourage a lifelong love of learning;
- proposing necessary reductions where savings can be realized, as a result of declining enrollment and/or staff attrition.
Voters to decide on three propositions
In addition to voting on the budget proposition, Guilderland residents will be asked to decide on the following propositions.
Electric Vehicle Proposition
GCSD is proposing the purchase of five zero-emission full-size electric school buses with air conditioning. This purchase includes Level-2 chargers and setup. The district is also proposing to replace a 2007 Chevy Utility Dump Truck
The total cost of this proposal is $1,352,700. Only the dump truck, which costs approximately $110,000, would be a net cost to the community. Under the enacted state budget in 2024, the district will receive this full amount in transportation aid as it repays the bond. As the district did last year, GCSD will take advantage of a NYS incentive voucher program, so there is NO projected net cost to the district for this purchase.
GCSD is proposing the purchase of five electric vehicle school buses to address the New York State mandate requiring, that by 2027, any school bus purchases made by school districts must be zero-emission vehicles and by 2035 all buses in operation must be zero emission.
Capital Project Proposition
The objective of the $57.3 million Future Ready capital improvement plan is to begin the multi-year process of transforming GCSD facilities into future ready learning environments. The proposed capital project aligns with the district’s mission and vision which is for all students — each and every one — to be prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of their future. The referendum will go before Guilderland voters for approval on Tuesday, May 20.
Scope of Work
Including work at all seven GCSD school buildings, the project addresses the priorities of modernizing learning spaces with Promethean boards and updated technology as well as improvements to safety and sitework, such as video surveillance, door access controls, paving and the demolition of the former district office. The project includes the addition of a specialized instructional space which would give Guilderland High School a dedicated music space while offering renovated facilities for technology classes.
Financial Impact
The capital improvement project totals $57,259,705, with 75 percent of the proposed project eligible for aid from New York state. The estimated tax impact to the community is 2.7 percent. For a taxpayer with the average assessed house in the Town of Guilderland of $283,585, the tax impact would be approximately $149.84 annually.
Residents will elect four board of education members
The Guilderland community will elect four members to the board of education on May 20, 2025. One candidate will serve a term that will begin on May 21, 2025 and end on June 30, 2026, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Judy Slack. This seat will be filled by the candidate who receives the fourth highest number of votes. The three remaining seats carry three-year terms beginning on July 1, 2025.
Budget vote day is May 20
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the elementary school in the voter’s residential zone. Qualified voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot must submit an application to the district clerk at least seven days before the vote if the ballot is to be mailed, or the day before if the ballot is to be picked up at the district office. Click here for more information and the absentee ballot application.