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 state aid in the plan is approximately $222,000,000.

Why it matters: If voters approve the May 20 propositions, the district will levy the taxes necessary to support the $295,514,615 spending plan. If the budget is defeated, Golub explained the district must either resubmit the same budget, present a revised budget for a revote, or adopt a contingent budget; if both resubmitted or revised budgets fail to pass, the board must adopt a contingent budget and identify which expenditures are not "ordinary contingent" expenses.

Key details and programs - Proposition 1 (the budget vote on May 20) is for the district's general fund total as presented. The district repeated that the proposed plan requires no increase to the tax levy. - Golub described the Contract for Excellence (a component of foundation aid accountability) and said roughly $26,000,000 is allocated within the district budget for related priorities, including class-size reduction in early grades and expanded programs like the Freshman Learning Academy and Big Picture Learning. - The presentation lists additions to staffing, including restorative-practice positions, attendance staff and other teaching and administrative posts. - The district will send a one-page budget newsletter and a QR code to every household in the city with required documents and polling-place information. Golub said absentee ballots requested by residents will be mailed beginning the next day.

Public process and voting logistics Golub said budget booklets were distributed to buildings in advance and that required supporting documents are available via a QR code. He directed residents to a district web tool that will show each voter's polling place by address. The district also plans a newsletter mailing that will list polling locations for the May 20 vote.

Questions from residents and board members at the hearing addressed how the district will cover increased costs without a tax-levy increase. Golub repeated that the plan relies on increased state foundation aid and the use of fund balance to bridge the difference.

Formal actions at the meeting During the subsequent board work session the board adopted the meeting agenda as presented and approved the consent agenda items (2a–2g). A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Board Member Kathy, seconded by Board Member Amanda, and the motion carried. The district did not record a roll-call tally in the public transcript for those motions; the meeting record shows the motions were approved by voice vote.

What happens next The district will hold the public budget vote on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. If voters defeat the budget, the board must follow the statutory options Golub outlined (resubmit, revise and resubmit, or adopt a contingent budget). The district will continue to publish supporting documents and voter information via mail and its website ahead of the vote.

Ending note Board officials encouraged all eligible Schenectady residents to vote on May 20, and said the budget supports programs the district described as critical to student services, including academic supports, mental-health services, arts and athletics.