South Colonie holds public hearing on $139.6 million proposed budget; tax levy up 3.49%

South Colonie Central School District officials held a public hearing May 6 on a proposed $139,550,500 budget for the 2025–26 school year that would raise the district tax levy by 3.49%, district staff said.

The hearing, presented by Miss McAllister, was held "pursuant to Education Law" and intended to receive public comment ahead of the budget vote set for May 20. "It is legally we're legally obligated to, do the public hearings, for the vote," McAllister said during her presentation.

The proposed budget would increase overall expenditures by about 8.36%—roughly $10 million—district staff said, with the largest single driver identified as higher debt service tied to the district's recent capital work, described in the presentation as the Next Generation Colonie project. The district said the levy increase equates to about $8.37 per month for a home with $200,000 market value, and the tax-cap calculation for the year was reported as 3.4909%, which the district is using at 3.49%.

Why this matters: The levy and spending plan tie to ongoing construction and debt service; the district told…