Guilderland Central School District residents voted by absentee ballot and approved the proposed $103 million budget for the 2020-21 school year with 4,906 yes votes and 2,524 no votes; this is a passing margin of 66 percent. This budget represents an increase in spending of $925,320 or 0.91 percent over the current year and will result in a 2.25 percent tax levy increase, meaning the district did not exceed its tax cap. Tax rates are estimated to increase by 2.25 percent for residents of the Town of Guilderland.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order that all school districts in the state must hold their budget votes and board elections via mail-in ballots only. Therefore, on May 29, more than 24,000 absentee ballots were mailed to all GCSD qualified voters.
“Over 7,500 ballots were received, representing triple the number of votes we have had in years past,” Superintendent Dr. Marie Wiles, said. “Thank you to our community for your unprecedented participation in the voting process. We appreciate your overwhelming support of our budget and bus propositions. We will continue to work hard to support our students and provide the quality education they deserve.”
Bus Proposition Results
Voters also approved a $983,300 proposition to purchase four 66-passenger buses, three 66-passenger buses with chains, and one 60-passenger bus with wheelchair stations and air conditioning, with 4,681 yes votes and 2,729 no votes.
Board of Education Results
There were five open seats, three 3-year terms and two 1-year terms, on the Guilderland Central School District Board of Education. The candidates with the most votes will fill the three 3-year terms. The Board of Education candidate vote totals are below:
- Rebecca Butterfield – 5,376
- Judy Slack – 5,322
- Benjamin Goes – 5,214
- Blanca Gonzalez-Parker – 5,089
- Luciano Alonzi – 4,868