SCHENECTADY — The Schenectady City School District is poised to present a $274 million budget to taxpayers this spring that does not include a tax increase for the seventh consecutive year and maintains district staffing levels and all student programming.
The district's Chief Financial Officer Terry Gillooley provided the first budget update on Feb. 7, and again reported to the school board on March 20.
The proposed 2024-2025 school budget, which will go to a vote on May 21, includes a $51.4 million tax levy — flat with last year’s approved budget. Under the state tax cap calculation, the district has the option to increase the tax levy by 3.24%, which would represent a $1.6 million increase over the 2023-2024 budget.
“We’re determining that we have enough money with the ARP [American Rescue Plan] funds, additional Foundation Aid and the savings from the current year and prior years, that we’ll sustain that zero tax levy,” he said.
The proposed budget represents a 3.5% spending increase over the prior year’s approved $265 million budget.
Gillooley noted, with the state budget process still ongoing, that the district is proceeding with state aid numbers included in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025 budget as the district formulates its plans.
The district is expected to receive $205 million in state aid for the 2024-2025 school year, a $12.5 million increase over the prior year.
Carlos Cotto Jr., who was appointed as the district’s next superintendent on March 6, is assisting in his first budget process in his new role as the district’s top official. He will officially assume the role on May 1 when departing Superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. leaves for Yonkers Public Schools.
Cotto said it was vital to present a proposed budget with no tax increase to voters in May.
“I think it’s extremely important,” Cotto said. “I think Mr. Gillooley in his leadership has done a phenomenal job in just budgeting this out from year-to-year. If we can, as often as we can, it’s always great to not have that impact our community as a whole. I think that is the intent. I think that every year is different, so we assess it from year-to-year. Our goal would always be to see how we can not have any impact on the community.”
Gillooley said the administration expects to present the final proposed 2024-2025 budget for school board review at the board’s next meeting on April 10, with the board expected to vote on the spending plan at its April 24 session.
“I do think that this budget is going to be a budget that the community — we hope — will be happy about,” Board of Education President Bernice Rivera said. “We also anticipate that once we get the whole picture at the next board meeting, it seems like we’ll be able to move forward with all existing programs that we have currently.”
Gillooley said the budget proposal presented at the board’s April 10 meeting will include detailed budget line items not included in his presentation to the board last Wednesday.
The district’s transportation budget will increase by approximately $4.2 million year-over-year in the proposed budget, with the district’s transportation contract to increase by $3 million to $20.9 million in the 2024-2025 plan.
School board member Cathy Lewis asked Gillooley during the March 20 meeting why the contract had increased over the prior year.
“Higher gas [prices], more usage and we have more special ed students who are utilizing it,” Gillooley replied.
The district is projected to receive $12.1 million in state transportation aid in the 2024-2025 school year.