The second draft of the proposed 2018-19 South Colonie Central School District budget was presented to the Board of Education on March 20. The second draft of the budget totals $102,174,240 with a budget-to-budget change over the current school year of +$2,716,991 or 2.73 percent. It also includes an estimated tax levy increase of 2.95 percent or $71,361,168. This is below the district’s project tax levy limit of 3.0955 percent.
In his New York State Executive Budget released in January, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a slight state aid increase for the district of $254,869 or 1.1 percent over the current school year. State lawmakers continue to debate final state aid numbers so this remains unknown at this time. The final tax cap may also change based on final state aid numbers. The deadline for passing a state budget is April 1.
Other information subject to change in the budget are BOCES and private school special education student placements, BOCES expenditures and other district program adjustments.
The Board of Education expects to adopt the proposed 2018-19 budget on Tuesday, April 10, at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. at the District Office. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 8, at Saddlewood Elementary School.
The annual district budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voting is held at the five elementary school. Also on the day residents will elect members to the Board of Education and vote on a proposed bus purchase proposition totaling $1,072,500.