South Colonie presents second-draft 2025–26 budget, proposes 3.49% levy increase; May 20 vote scheduled

Jacqueline McAllister, district staff overseeing budget development, told the South Colonie Central School District Board of Education that the second draft of the 2025–26 budget proposes a 3.49% tax levy increase, including a roughly 0.95% capital-exclusion portion tied to the district's next-generation capital project.

McAllister said the draft balances rising costs and enrollment growth while preserving funding for classroom programs. She identified the main upward pressures as a $4.4 million increase in debt service to pay for ongoing projects, an 8–10% rise in insurance costs, and salary trend assumptions of roughly 3–5% tied to current contracts. She also noted higher pension contributions for ERS and TRS and modest uncertainty around federal grants and Medicaid reimbursement.

The presentation contextualized the levy proposal against the district's tax-cap constraints (discussed as 2.9% CPI/tax-cap factors in the presentation) and said the 0.95% capital exclusion reflects the district’s prior public statements when it went to a vote on elements of the capital project in October 2022. McAllister said enrollment increases—based on Capital District Regional Planning Commission projections—are boosting state-aid entitlement and creating the need for additional staff in several areas.

The draft includes targeted staffing and program changes: 0.5 psychologist for ELL/Early Learning, a 0.5 business teacher for high-school pathways, two elementary teachers at Lychee Hill (to address sixth-grade class sizes), two middle-school interventionists (writing and reading), and a 7–12 science supervisor for K–12 curriculum development. The district plans routine districtwide IT and Chromebook replacement on a four-year cycle, with incoming fifth- and ninth-graders scheduled to receive new devices.

Staff described transportation purchases on the May 20 ballot, including a mix of diesel/gas buses and one electric school bus. McAllister said the electric bus must be financed up front but is expected to be fully reimbursed by grants and aid, resulting in no net cost to the district after aid. Buses would be amortized over 5 years for conventional units and 8 years for electric buses in the district projections.

Key dates provided in the presentation: final board presentation and proposed adoption April 23, a backup public hearing May 6, the district-wide vote May 20 at the middle schools, and certification of results on May 27 at the high school. McAllister said the draft is balanced for public release and that adjustments remain possible as state budget and aid figures become final.

Board members asked clarifying questions about Chromebook replacement and health-care cost trends. Mr. King asked whether Chromebooks are discarded after four years; McAllister said devices are recycled or repurposed and that incoming fifth- and ninth-graders receive replacements at the start of the school year. Board members also pressed staff on rising health-care costs and the district’s increasing use of assigned fund balance and reserves to smooth short-term impacts.

Why this matters: the proposed levy increase, debt-service growth and capital-exclusion levy directly affect local property taxpayers and fund facilities and staffing decisions for the coming school year. The board will adopt a final budget and certify the vote only after the public hearing and the May 20 vote.