Budget Vote & Board Election set for Tuesday, May 19
South Colonie residents will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 19 for the South Colonie School Budget Vote & Board Election.
Residents will vote on the operating budget for the upcoming 2026-27 school year, propositions, and two School Board Member seats.
Polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at both Lisha Kill and Sand Creek Middle Schools. Find your assigned polling location now.
Whats on the Ballot? Ballot Language Explained
Proposition 1: Annual Budget
Voters will consider a $147.6 million budget that maintains all current programs and expands student support. The proposal includes a 3.49% tax levy increase, below the state tax cap, and includes the 1% planned phase-in for the voter-approved Next Generation Capital Project.
The budget includes:
- Maintains all existing programs and staffing
- New K–12 ELA curriculum
- Expands early college access with free tuition
- Adds special education and student support staffing
- Grows extracurricular and athletic programs
Ballot Language:
PROPOSITION #1: ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET
RESOLVED: That the Board of Education of the South Colonie Central School District, Albany County, New York be authorized to expend sums as set forth in the annual operating budget in the total amount of $147,596,900 for the 2026-2027 school year and to levy the necessary tax therefor.
Proposition 2: School Bus Purchase
$1.69 million school bus replacement plan to purchase 10 traditional school buses. Purchase includes six 66-passenger buses, one 16-passenger bus, two 24-passenger wheelchair-accessible buses with air conditioning, and one 6-passenger minivan or Suburban. The purchase will be funded through short-term five-year borrowing. By leveraging State Transportation Aid over that same period, the project will have a nominal tax impact—costing residents only pennies on their annual tax bills.
Ballot Language:
PROPOSITION #2: SCHOOL BUS PURCHASE
RESOLVED: Shall the proposition set forth in the notice of this meeting authorizing the purchase of school buses, at an estimated cost not to exceed $1,690,000.00; and providing that such sum, or so much thereof as shall be necessary, shall be raised by a tax levy to be collected in annual installments, with District obligations to be issued in anticipation thereof, be approved?
Propsition 3: Capital Project
With no additional tax impact, Proposition 3 authorizes the use of $4.7 million from the existing capital reserve to maximize state aid for a $13 million capital project supporting upgrades at the new Transportation Facility and helping offset costs associated with expanding classroom cooling.
Ballot Language:
PROPOSITION #1: BOND PROPOSITION FOR MULTI-BUILDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Shall the proposition set forth in the notice of this meeting authorizing the construction of additions and improvements to reconstruct various school buildings and facilities at a maximum estimated cost not to exceed $13,000,000; to expend $4,700,000 from the school district's Capital Reserve Fund and that the remaining $8,300,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be raised by a tax levy to be collected annually, with District obligations to be issued in anticipation thereof, be approved?
Proposition 4: Capital Reserve
This proposition allows the district to establish a new capital reserve fund of up to $10 million accumulated over a period of up to ten years. Funded through available balances and BOE-approved transfers, the available balance would be used for future building improvements and site upgrades.
Ballot Language:
PROPOSITION #2: CAPITAL RESERVE
RESOLVED: Shall the proposition set forth in the notice of this meeting authorizing the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund in the maximum amount of $10,000,000 be approved?
School Board Election
Two candidates are seeking election to the South Colonie Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Each position carries a five-year term ending on June 30, 2031. Incumbent Christopher Larrabee is seeking re-election to his seat, and Jennifer Jones is running for the seat currently held by Robert Mesick. Both candidates are running unopposed.
Christopher Larrabee
Larrabee is seeking re-election to a second term on the Board of Education. He was first elected in May 2021 to fill a five-year term that expires on June 30, 2026. If re-elected, he would serve a new five-year term through June 30, 2031.
Larrabee is a Business Services Representative for the New York State Department of Labor, where he has worked for the past 20 years. A graduate of Colonie Central High School (Class of 1997), he earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Hudson Valley Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Business from SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica–Rome.
An active community volunteer, Larrabee has served in various roles of both village government and youth athletics. He serves as Player Agent for Colonie Little League and coaches both recreation and travel teams. He also coaches a South Colonie team in the Capital District Youth Basketball League and was appointed to the Village of Colonie Zoning Board in 2020.
Larrabee has lived in the South Colonie Central School District for the past 28 years and has one son who attends Colonie Central High School.
Jennifer Jones
Jones is seeking to be elected for her first term on the South Colonie Central School District School Board.
Jones is a Principal Court Analyst in the HR/Fiscal/Facilities Office at the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, where she manages personnel, hiring, accounts payable, purchasing, and budget responsibilities. Before moving to her role in the NYS Supreme court, Jones worked as a caseworker for Albany County Department of Children Youth and Families for seven years with Child Protective Services and Juvenile Justice.
She is a 30-year resident of Colonie, a Colonie Central High School graduate (Class of 2002) and earned a degree in Communication from the University at Albany. For more than 20 years, Jones also taught tap, jazz and hip hop at Tynan’s Center for Dance, Eleanor’s School of Dance, and CKDance Company.
As a parent of a sixth grader at Sand Creek Middle School, Jones was a member of the Roessleville PTA, a Colonie Little League coach and a Colonie Junior Wolf Pack (Raiders) Football volunteer.