Residents to vote on $109.9 million school budget proposal on May 17
At the May 3 board of education meeting, the Guilderland Central School District held its public budget hearing. Assistant Superintendent for Business, Mr. Neil Sanders, provided a presentation on the proposed $109,887,845 budget for the 2022-23 school year.
At the budget hearing Mr. Sanders explained that New York law requires districts to present their budgets divided into three expenditure categories, program (77.1%), administrative (11.4%) and capital (11.5%).
Plan maintains programming; focuses on academics and supporting programs that contribute to student social-emotional well-being
On May 17, 2022, Guilderland residents will vote on the proposed $109,887,845 budget for the 2022-23 school year. The proposal carries a 4.68% spending increase over the current year and a 2.98% increase to the tax levy, which is within the district’s levy limit. A 50% voter approval is required for passage of the budget.
The proposed budget focuses on providing the highest quality education, to ensure each and every student is ready and empowered to succeed in the future.The adopted spending plan would make it possible to lower class sizes in grade eight and expand the Altamont Elementary School library position, while aligning with the district’s goals of educating the whole student. The district remains committed to offering robust academics while supporting the programs that contribute to the social and emotional well-being of students, such as music, the arts and athletics.
Voter information
Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 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.
In addition to the budget proposal, residents will also:
- Decide on a $976,000 proposition to purchase eight 66-passenger buses, three with chains.
- Elect four members to the board of Education.
Voters to decide on a replacement bus and equipment proposition
A separate proposition will appear on the May 17 ballot to replace aging school buses at a total cost of $976,000. The purchase would include eight 66-passenger buses, three with chains.
The new buses will replace aging vehicles. The New York State Department of Transportation requires that all school buses pass rigorous inspection criteria. Annually, the district has replaced some aging buses with new buses, to maintain a fleet in overall good condition. Approximately 50% of the bus purchase would be returned to the district in the form of future state aid, reducing the cost to local taxpayers by $488,000.