[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6606980,"mediaKeyId","2957656-c26a4d40f81bd10b8ece3aa497fd2010","parentId",2957656,"title","Albany BOE hears budget options amid state aid uncertainty; public raises concerns about administration and substitute nurse pay","audioSeconds",2422,"startMs",705000,"endMs",3127000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2957656-c26a4d40f81bd10b8ece3aa497fd2010&start=705&end=3127","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2957656-c26a4d40f81bd10b8ece3aa497fd2010/thumbnail_705000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606980/New-York/Albany-BOE-hears-budget-options-amid-state-aid-uncertainty-public-raises-concerns-about-administration-and-substitute-nurse-pay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606980-e0baf6275e3166498ac51700c40542ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770982956&Signature=mNwnvwYGlUVuEpCaNq5SLzXVs7pX8LI17aOKKEVydaCrrMM6aeoHd5Gn8KYF1qpA2V0EndNwRv3z5xze~2CY9WpZH2PECa9Kw~nl7sMFmTKI8~tEDmgN~zWZE9sW-9fEjPVzHnNzDYPiHLT9-XG8Q1lJQWxfLsXDgIbuUl-3YkB-GN7tTr-vxYtpuqP1PENc2AyINZG0z6GKclxHwNQmZ7TQJWhh3ZcAbI5m~8C0lTEzgNZPUh5szPm4yCPT-RB2EK0B13NowWeIPl3kyVR85ocsDQJSscP2TbmXFOvk-RIDNSD3MAOCQn73i79A0Z2AdD1wlUvqxQqj-3NB6kUr6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-04-11T00:30:44.113Z","article","Public comments at the City School District of Albany Board of Education meeting raised budgetary concerns about administrative staffing at Albany High School and the district’s substitute registered nurse pay before the board heard a detailed budget presentation from district staff.

Two emailed public comments read at the meeting urged scrutiny of administrative payroll and substitute-nurse compensation. Amanda Kennedy, a parent and taxpayer, asked why the high school and athletics offices have multiple administrators and requested an explanation of several athletics-related salary line items that she said appear large compared with other staffing. Suzanne McCarthy, the district health coordinator, urged the board to raise substitute RN pay to better match neighboring districts, noting the district has two substitute RNs to cover 18 public-school buildings and 12 nonpublic schools and that current rates hamper recruitment.

The public comments preceded a budget briefing from Mr. Karas, who presented revenue and expenditure estimates and options the board could consider before the district finalizes its budget for voter approval. Karas said the district’s tax-cap calculation is about 5.06% and that current projections show an estimated $1.6 million gap between projected revenues and expenditures. He presented two illustrative options: a 1.33% tax-levy increase (which would reduce the use of reserves) and a 1% increase (which would require using an additional roughly $396,000 from reserves). Karas emphasized the numbers remain contingent on the state budget and foundation-aid outcomes.

Karas walked the board through the major budget drivers: contractual obligations under labor agreements, health-insurance increases, state-aid uncertainty tied to the Rockefeller Institute’s recommendations and the still-unapproved state budget, and continuing costs for charter-school tuition and special-education placements. He said the operating budget estimate showed a near 4.9% increase in general-fund expenditures in the proposal.

Board members and the superintendent discussed enrollment projections, reserves and the possibility that the state approved aid could reduce or eliminate proposed property-tax increases. Board members emphasized that staffing adjustments the district was considering were driven by attrition and vacant positions rather than layoffs; one member said projected staffing ratios (students per teacher) remain roughly constant in the presented projection. The board discussed timelines for community budget forums, the May 8 budget hearing, and district outreach dates for public Q&A sessions.

Separately, the superintendent reported that statewide computer-based state assessments experienced technical problems early in the week and that some districts — including Albany — paused testing to allow the state and vendor time to address the issues. The superintendent and several board members said the interruptions raised questions about the purpose and timing of large-scale state testing and the burden on instructional time.

No formal budget vote occurred at the meeting. The board did adopt its routine-consent agenda by unanimous voice vote earlier in the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Public Meeting | Live Stream | April 10th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its regular meeting the City School District of Albany Board of Education received public comments about administrative staffing and substitute nurse pay, heard a budget presentation outlining a possible $1.6 million gap and options for a modest tax-levy increase, and discussed statewide test administration problems.","taxTitle","ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38555,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606985,"Albany Public Library seeks 5% budget increase; highlights attendance, digital use and program growth",833,1134000,1967000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2957656-c26a4d40f81bd10b8ece3aa497fd2010&start=1134&end=1967","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2957656-c26a4d40f81bd10b8ece3aa497fd2010/thumbnail_1134000.jpg","/articles/6606985/New-York/Albany-Public-Library-seeks-5-budget-increase-highlights-attendance-digital-use-and-program-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606985-634ea96978336a5e75e2a798eeeda197/orig.mp4?Expires=1770982956&Signature=DBGhc81A95NLIoEWrOI1Gj4jjwRwVdcXf3eMhRD0nTljJn9VeeD2n0dEJAikdiW7UJSXCn03s1qYLXkTsW3qEOnXUrtc~Gj7G2MlUPR9WvQZv7GI7L1NWXA6NAiy~BhZyJBd1xkdwqEQ0Cy9ijB4usdg~LdB5GN7iFQUOFNwbSDzLWn6QefJ1plgVR6CnuZ3vmIMytVnWWaStbsokaXanDHULoLuMtuARdOR51E~qhvveEfwb07qwTcPUQubM7vlKTaeuYTbEFQ8Q3TqrjtxzMQal-yf98BKiWbIYt3n8RBGtcayj6lKS8ZgeyZVV3-05lLm2LTMCZ0~lmQ5FdGx1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Albany Public Library Executive Director Andrea Nicolay told the City School District of Albany Board of Education that the library will ask voters to approve a 5% increase in its 2025–26 budget, citing contractual obligations, higher retirement and health-insurance costs and a sharp drop in pilot payments.

Nicolay summarized the library’s 2024 performance and said the request is within the library tax cap. She gave attendance and program statistics, described new partnerships and explained how the budget increase would translate to property taxes for homeowners.

The library’s community report for 2024 showed program attendance and digital use rose. Nicolay said early-literacy programs were relaunched across all seven branches and attendance for that series rose by 15%. The library offered just over 500 early-literacy programs that drew about 10,587 children and caregivers. Overall program attendance rose by 24%, and digital-content use increased by about 20%.

Nicolay described other 2024 figures: approximately 515,000 visitors systemwide; about 2,000 visits by school groups and day cares; makerspace attendance doubled (with 153 STEAM programs serving about 2,000 people); about 10,000 study-room bookings and roughly 872 meeting-room bookings. She said the library expanded its museum-pass program, adding passes for EGG Presents and the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

On finances, Nicolay said the library’s request reflects several cost drivers: contractual staff raises, an approximately $200,000 drop in anticipated pilot payments, an estimated 16% increase in the New York State Retirement System contribution and a roughly 10% rise in health-insurance costs. She said the 5% request remains under the statutory tax cap for library budgets. If approved by voters, she said, a home assessed at $250,000 would pay an extra $12.75 in library taxes next year.

Nicolay also described governance and community engagement items: two full trustee terms are open and nominating packets are available at all seven branches; the trustee election and budget vote are scheduled for May 20, and the library will hold a candidate forum and budget information session on May 6 (to be livestreamed and posted on YouTube). Nicolay said the library will begin a new three‑year strategic planning process and invited community input.

Board members responded with thanks and personal anecdotes about using the library and its programs. The board’s president asked for and received no formal motion or vote on the library presentation; the presentation concluded and the meeting proceeded to other agenda items.

Nicolay encouraged residents to consult the library’s website for detailed impact sheets and budget materials and to contact her with questions.","Albany Public Library Director Andrea Nicolay told the City School District of Albany Board of Education the library will seek a 5% budget increase in the May vote, citing rising costs, a drop in pilot payments and growth in early-literacy and digital programs.","actionData","errors"]

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Albany BOE hears budget options amid state aid uncertainty; public raises concerns about administration and substitute nurse pay

Albany Public Library seeks 5% budget increase; highlights attendance, digital use and program growth