Schenectady BOE holds public hearing on $295.5 million proposed 2025-26 budget; board again proposes 0% tax-levy increase

The Board of Education of the Schenectady City School District held a public budget hearing on May 7 to present its proposed $295,514,615 budget for the 2025-26 school year and explain next steps before the May 20 budget vote.

Chief Financial Officer Terry Golub, who led the presentation, said the district is proposing the budget with a 0% tax-levy increase for the seventh consecutive year and that the package maintains current programs and staffing while adding certain positions. "I'm going out with a 0% tax increase," Golub said during the presentation.

The district described the budget as a three-part plan composed of administrative, program and capital components. Golub said the proposed total reflects a 6.4% increase in expenditures and that the district expects an increase in New York State foundation aid; he said the district would also use fund balance to help balance the plan. "We're using about $9,000,000 of fund balance," Golub said, adding that the amount represents roughly three percent of the proposed budget. He said…