Albany board adopts 2025–26 budget with 0.9% tax levy increase

The Albany City School District Board of Education on Tuesday adopted its 2025–26 budget and set a 0.9% tax levy after a special meeting where trustees discussed enrollment projections, staffing ratios and planned capital work.

Board President Sridha Chatur opened the meeting and the presentation of the proposed budget was delivered by district staff. The board voted unanimously to adopt the budget as presented with a 0.9% tax levy.

The adopted budget reflects an estimated enrollment decline of about 300 students and an estimated general fund deficit of roughly $1.6 million under current state-aid projections, the district said during the presentation. The district also showed an estimated increase of about $14.5 million in state aid in the executive state-aid run used for planning. District staff noted the state had not yet adopted a final state budget and numbers could change when the state bill is finalized.

District staff outlined major expenditure changes in the proposed general fund: an approximately $8 million increase in transportation…