South Colonie budget News Story Headlines From the 2010-2011 School Year
New York State Property Tax Cap Now Official
Posted on June 30, 2011
The New York State Legislature made it official this month in passing Governor Andrew Cuomo's campaign promise to enact a property tax cap on school districts and municipalities. The cap will take effect this coming budget season and affect district planning for the 2012-2013 school year. full story
South Colonie Residents Approve 2011-2012 District Budget 1,548-1,061
Posted May 17, 2011
South Colonie Central School District residents went to the polls on Tuesday, May 17th, and approved an $91.1 million budget for the 2011-12 school year by a vote of 1,548-1,061. The budget continues to support South Colonie’s key educational initiatives despite a projected $531,000 cut in state aid to the district over the current school year. full story
Countdown to South Colonie's May 17th Budget Vote: TODAY IS BUDGET VOTE DAY, Please vote 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Posted on May 17, 2011
Today, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., district residents will go to the polls to decide on the 2011-12 proposed district budget, as well as elect two candidates to the Board of Education. To view the district’s budget newsletter, click here (pdf). From last week until the vote, different questions and answers have been posted here and sent out via SNN. Today's Q & A's
Countdown to South Colonie's May 17th Budget Vote: 1 Day and Counting
Posted on May 16, 2011
On Tuesday, May 17th, district residents will go to the polls to decide on the 2011-12 proposed district budget, as well as elect two candidates to the Board of Education. To view the district’s budget newsletter, click here (pdf). From now until the vote, different questions and answers will be posted here and sent out via SNN so check back each day. Today's Q & A's
Countdown to South Colonie's May 17th Budget Vote: 2 Days and Counting
Posted on May 15, 2011
On Tuesday, May 17th, district residents will go to the polls to decide on the 2011-12 proposed district budget, as well as elect two candidates to the Board of Education. To view the district’s budget newsletter, click here (pdf). From now until the vote, different questions and answers will be posted here and sent out via SNN so check back each day. Today's Q & A's
Countdown to South Colonie's May 17th Budget Vote: 3 Days and Counting
Posted on May 14, 2011
On Tuesday, May 17th, district residents will go to the polls to decide on the 2011-12 proposed district budget, as well as elect two candidates to the Board of Education. To view the district’s budget newsletter, click here (pdf). From now until the vote, different questions and answers will be posted here and sent out via SNN so check back each day. Today's Q & A's
Countdown to South Colonie's May 17th Budget Vote: 4 Days and Counting
Posted on May 13, 2011
On Tuesday, May 17th, district residents will go to the polls to decide on the 2011-12 proposed district budget, as well as elect two candidates to the Board of Education. To view the district’s budget newsletter, click here (pdf). From now until the vote, different questions and answers will be posted here and sent out via SNN so check back each day. Today's Q & A's
Countdown to the South Colonie May 17th Budget Vote - 5 Days and Counting
Posted on May 12, 2011
On Tuesday, May 17, district residents will go to the polls to decide on the 2011-12 proposed budget, as well as elect two candidates to the Board of Education. To view the district’s comprehensive budget newsletter, click here (pdf). From now until the vote, different questions and answers will be posted on the district website and sent out via SNN. Today's Q & A's
Board of Education Adopts Proposed
$91.1 Million District Budget For 2011-2012; Public Vote May
17th
Posted april 13, 2011
The Board of Education adopted a proposed $91.1 million district budget for the 2011-2012 school year on April 13. The budget, which will go before voters on May 17th, includes a spending increase of 1.99 percent over the current school year and an estimated school property tax increase of 2.93 percent for district residents. In preparing the proposed budget, the district was faced with rising costs and a sharp decrease in state aid of more than $500,000. For more information, check your mailboxes for the annual budget issue of the InFocus newsletter in May or click on the link below.
2011-2012 BUDGET INFORMATION NEWSLETTER (PDF)
District Makes 2011-12 Budget Adjustments Due to Loss of State Aid
Posted on April 5, 2011
The South Colonie Central School District
will experience additional adjustments as
a result of a three-year downturn in state support for
education. These adjustments are featured in the
April, 2011 InFocus newsletter (pdf).
Second Draft of the Proposed 2011-2012 District Budget Includes Nearly $650,000 in Restored State Aid; District Still Braces for a $500,000 Loss
Posted on April 5, 2011
The South Colonie Board of Education reviewed a second draft of a proposed district budget for the 2011-12 school year Tuesday night which includes $648,774 in restored aid for education by the New York State Legislature. full story
District Unveils First Draft of the 2011-12 School Year Budget
Posted march 16, 2011
Faced with unprecedented financial challenges due to massive reductions in state support for education, the district unveiled its first draft of a proposed budget for the 2011-2012 school year to the South Colonie Board of Education on March 15. full story
Superintendents Legislative Committee Releases 2011 Position Paper
Posted march 8, 2011
The Superintendents Legislative Committee, which represents 47 school districts in the Questar III and Capital Region BOCES region, has released its regional legislative position paper entitled: "New York is at a crossroads... and so are its public schools." The position paper addresses the Governor's proposed Executive Budget and its state aid cuts to education. The view the position paper, click here (pdf).
Governor's Mandate Relief Team Releases Initial Report
Posted march 2, 2011
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's appointed team of private and public sector individuals charged with finding ways to cut the unfunded and underfunded mandates that help make New York one of the most taxed states in the nation has released its initial report of recommendations. full story
South Colonie Board of Education to Host Open Budget Discussion Thursday Night at Shaker Road Elementary School
posted on february 28, 2011
The South Colonie Board of Education will host an open discussion and question and answer session focusing on preparation of the 2011-2012 district budget at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 3, at the Shaker Road Elementary Library.
Council of Superintendents Releases Analysis of Gov's State Budget Plan
Posted february 28, 2011
The New York State Council of School Superintendents has released its summary and analysis of the 2011-2012 NYS executive budget proposed by Governor Cuomo. The report is entitled: "Rhetoric vs. Reality." The view this report, click here (pdf).
BOCES State Aid Cuts to School Districts Contradict Governor's Call For More Consolidation of Services
Posted february 21, 2011
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has called on New York’s hodgepodge of small and large school districts to operate more efficiently by consolidating and sharing services. But in a move that has angered many school officials, Mr. Cuomo is proposing to eliminate financial incentives that have long rewarded districts that join together to use services provided by 37 regional educational agencies known as the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES. full story
Superintendents' Council Testifies Before New York State Legislators on Impact of Governor's Executive Budget on Public Schools
Posted february 18, 2011
The New York State Council of School Superintendents testified before NYS lawmakers on the impact of the Governor's 2011-12 executive budget on New York State public schools. To view the Council's testimony before the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, click here (pdf).
New York Times Editorial: Cuomo Budget Cuts to Education 'Too Much'
Posted february 3, 2011
Following Gov. Cuomo's release of his New York State executive budget on February 2, a New York Times editorial called his cuts to education "too much." Wealthy districts will be able to get by, but these deep cuts would further devastate the poorest districts that have weak tax bases and depend on the state for 75 percent of their budgets. full story
Governor's Executive Budget Calls For Drastic Cuts in State Aid to Education; South Colonie Slated to Lose $2.3 Million Over Current-Year Budget
Posted february 2, 2011
On February 1st, Governor Cuomo presented his proposal for the 2011-12 New York State budget. The Governor is proposing a total of $19.39 billion in state support for public schools. This represents a year-to-year decrease of $1.535 billion (-7.3%) statewide and about a $2.3 million cut is aid to South Colonie, as compared to the approved 2010-11 state budget. The total decrease represents a $1.537 billion reduction in formula aids and a $1.75 million increase in grant programs. full story
Governor's First State of the State Message Address Education
Posted january 5, 2011
Declaring New York State at a crucial crossroads, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo outlined during his first State of the State Address an action plan to fundamentally transform New York State's government and economy by getting the state's fiscal house in order, radically redesigning our governmental structures and operations, and restoring integrity and performance to state government. Governor Cuomo noted that the decisions we make now will impact our State for decades to come. full story
The Tax Cap Illusion Published by the New York Times Opinion Writers
Posted december 22, 2010
The New York Times, in a recent editorial, opposed Governor-elect Cuomo's school property tax cap idea, calling it "a blunt instrument that ends up punishing many of the taxpayers and communities in need of relief." full story
Regents Adopts 2011-2012 State Aid Proposal For School Districts
Posted december 13, 2010
The State Aid Subcommittee of the Board of Regents has adopted a State Aid proposal for 2011-2012 that recommends adherence to the Foundation Aid funding formula phase-in with no increase in Foundation Aid funding at this time. full story
NYS School Boards Association Issues Report on Proposed Tax Cap
Posted december 13, 2010
The property tax cap proposed by Governor-elect Andrew M. Cuomo would leave most school districts in the state unable to cover increases in salaries, pensions and health care, the New York State School Boards Association concluded in a report it released in December. Read the report (pdf)
Board of Education Sets Meeting Schedule For 2011-12 Budget Development
Posted december 10, 2010
The South Colonie Board of Education has set its public meeting schedule for development of a district budget for the 2011-2012 school year. To download the schedule, click here (pdf). While most meetings are held at the District Office, this year's schedule also includes two open discussion/question and answer sessions - Thursday, February 10, 7 p.m., at the Veeder Elementary School cafetorium and Thursday, March 3, 7 p.m., at the Shaker Road Elementary School library. The public hearing will be held Tuesday, May 3, 7 p.m., at the Saddlewood Elementary School cafetorium. Voting on the budget will be held 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, at the district's five elementary school buildings.
Gov-Elect Cuomo Vows No Tax Hikes, Will Cut School Aid in New Administration
Posted on november 9, 2010
Democratic Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo said he would refuse to raise taxes to cover the state's budget shortfall and would seek cuts to politically popular programs like education and health care instead. full story
School Property Tax Increase Lower Than Expected; Up 1.25% in South Colonie
Posted on september 1, 2010
School property taxes will increase by only about a third of the amount originally projected last spring for residential and commercial property owners living in the Town of Colonie. Based on equalization rates and final assessments recently set by area municipalities, the Board of Education met August 31 and set a new Colonie tax rate of $24.05 per $1,000 of assessed value for the 2010-11 school year. This represents a 1.25 percent or 30-cent increase over last school year’s Colonie tax rate of $23.75 per $1,000. Full story