Niskayuna finance committee advances $116.12 million budget proposal with $2.46 million in new investments, 2.29% tax levy

Niskayuna Central School District finance staff on March 21 presented a recommended 2025–26 budget that would total roughly $116.12 million and include about $2.46 million in new recurring investments and 20.8 full‑time equivalent positions, with a proposed tax levy of about $66.28 million, a 2.29% increase that remains below the district's calculated tax levy cap of 3.58%.

The proposal, summarized to the finance committee ahead of the full board's March 25 meeting, draws on projected increases in state aid (including building aid and changes to the foundation aid formula) and identifies district savings and reallocations to support new spending while holding appropriated fund balance steady at 2.58%.

Matt (staff member) said the recommended additions total about $2.46 million and 20.8 positions and reflect priorities identified in community engagement and the district's budget process. "We were able to identify some existing capacity and outline $1,200,000 in new investment," he said, describing a line‑by‑line review led by staff that freed resources to fund several new positions and programs.

Key recurring investments and staffing proposed for 2025–26 include: - Special education: two additional self‑contained elementary special education classrooms (one to serve students aging into the program at Van Antwerp), supplemental co‑teach/resource room staffing at the high school, and…