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 the board it is still awaiting final state budget numbers and used projected foundation-aid figures based on the governor's executive proposal. If the state aid figures change after the state budget passes, the final revenue picture for the district could change.

Key revenue and spending details described at the hearing: - Proposed budget total: $139,550,500 (presented as a balanced budget). - Projected state-aid increase presented as $8,000,000, including additional building aid to offset capital debt. - STAR/PILOT and tax revenues are listed among the largest revenue buckets; STAR reimbursement was listed at $2,800,000 in the presentation. - The adopted expenditure increase was shown as 8.36% (approximately $10 million), with notable increases in debt service, employee benefits and instruction. - Category breakdown: 9.2% administrative, 13.4% capital (grown largely because of debt service), and 77.4% program.

On staffing and instructional investments, the presentation said the budget includes a 0.5 psychologist and a UPK interventionist in special education and pupil services; two elementary teachers intended to reduce sixth-grade class size at Leisha Kill; two middle-school reading and writing interventionists; a 0.5 business teacher for high-school pathways; coaching/adviser positions for athletics and extracurriculars; a 7–12 science supervisor; and continuation of an information-technology replacement plan to sustain 1:1 student devices.

The budget package also includes two ballot propositions to appear on May 20: the district operating budget vote (yes/no) and a bus proposition described in the presentation as $1,830,000 to fund the district's bus replacement plan, including one electric school bus and a set of replacement diesel buses. The presenter said the bus proposition is expected to be effectively zero net cost to taxpayers after anticipated grants and other offsets. The district also announced a board election on May 20 and provided assigned polling locations.

Contingency and next steps: McAllister told the board that if the budget does not pass on May 20, a statewide re-vote date would be June 17. The presentation warned that a contingency budget would require approximately $2,800,000 in cuts.

District context: Superintendent Dr. Perry provided a separate update during the meeting on construction work related to the district's multi-stage capital program. He described completed work on portions of the high school and planned summer renovations to other wings and elementary classrooms, and said stage 3 of the capital program—primarily a transportation center and further elementary renovations—is expected to run from about 2026 through 2028.

No public speakers registered for the hearing during the meeting. The presentation closed with reminders about the May 20 vote and polling locations and an invitation to contact district staff with questions about the budget and tax rates.

The board moved on later in the meeting to routine approvals and to enter an executive session on a legal matter; those actions were separate from the budget public hearing.

Sources: Budget presentation to the South Colonie Central School District Board of Education during the May 6 meeting; statements by Miss McAllister and Dr. Perry as recorded in the meeting transcript.