Qualified voters of the Schuylerville Central School District will vote on a $40 million proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year on May 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the District Office Board of Education room. The $40 million proposed budget calls for a 1.71% spending increase and an estimated tax levy increase of 1.99%, which is below the district’s allowable tax cap. Tax rates for individual properties will be determined over the summer once equalization rates and assessments are available for the district’s seven towns. Year to year, the budget always includes previously-agreed upon salary increases from all current contracts, as well as increases or decreases to other expenses depending on the needs of the district.
State aid is historically a large portion of Schuylerville’s revenue each year, equating to about half the district’s budget. This year, in Governor Hochul’s executive budget proposal, Schuylerville received a 2% increase in foundation aid, but will lose building aid, which corresponds to a bond that’s expiring. This results in a projected decrease in overall revenue from the 2024-25 budget. The district intends to use $1.7 million of fund balance to cover the gap of lost revenue and expenditure increases. Over the next two years, the district plans to reduce the use of fund balance to a more manageable figure of $1 million.
Capital Project Proposal
Also on the ballot will be a capital project proposal, which underscores the district’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving school facilities, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of students, staff, and the broader community.
The estimated cost of the capital project proposal is $10,795,000, which will align with the expiration of current bonds. As a result, there will be no additional tax impact to fund the capital project. If the project is approved by voters, the district will work to finalize the details of the design and construction and submit plans to the NYS Education Department. Construction would span from summer 2027 to the summer of 2028. Click here to read more about the proposed scope of work and for a video that highlights details of the project.
“The proposed project is designed to tackle items that were left out of previous initiatives and address new priorities that have emerged,” said Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman. “Since the district’s last major project concluded in 2019, several areas have been identified as needing attention.”
“We believe both proposals are a smart investment in our schools and our community,” added Schuylerville Board of Education President Bernie Buff. “The budget keeps our programs strong and supports students and staff, while the capital project allows the district to make important upgrades with no additional tax impact.”