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Budget proposal supports student needs, fiscal goals

The City School District of Albany’s budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year would continue to support programs and services that students need and deserve while also minimizing the impact on taxpayers.

The $342.4 million proposal that voters will consider May 20 includes a tax-levy increase of 0.9%. It is the fifth year in a row that the district’s proposed increase has been less than 1% – the average proposed increase during that time has been less than six-tenths of a percent.

The proposal strategically reduces staff expenses through retirements and the elimination of vacant positions, accounting for the end of the temporary federal COVID-19 relief funding for schools. Because of an anticipated decline in enrollment, staff-to-student ratios are expected to be as good or better next year.

The proposal is supported by a $12.1 million increase in Foundation Aid – the main state aid source for school districts. 

That estimate is based on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget in January. The state budget and final school aid projections for the 2025-26 school year were not done when the Board of Education approved the district’s budget proposal April 22. 

The proposal also invests $12.6 million from the district’s reserves and fund balance in the ongoing efforts to maintain extensive programming and extracurricular opportunities for all students.

“Our priority, as it is each year, is to maintain our commitment to the programs and services that all of our students need to reach their fullest potential, while also being responsible to the economic needs of our community and our residents,” said Board of Education President Sridar Chittur, Ph.D.

“We recognize that these are challenging and uncertain times, and we believe that this budget proposal would allow our school district to provide the supports and services to meet those critically important goals.” 

The May 20 ballot also will include two additional school-related propositions, neither of which would have any additional impact on taxes. 

There are two board seats up for election this year as well. Dr. Chittur is seeking re-election, and board member Vickie Smith is not.

The district also anticipates approximately $43 million in payments to charter schools in 2025-26.

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Strategic staffing alignment

Supported by approximately $45 million in temporary federal COVID-19 relief funding from 2021-24, and meeting the needs of growing student enrollment over the past two years, the district invested in additional positions to support students and rebuild from the academic and social-emotional challenges of the pandemic.

The district experienced unprecedented growth in enrollment in English as a New Language programs from July 2023 through this spring, with nearly 1,500 new English-language learners enrolling in that time. 

Overall K-12 student enrollment increased by nearly 800 students during that period, from the lowest point in well over a decade in 2022-23 to more than 8,600 students last fall. 

However, recent changes in federal immigration policies have slowed the enrollment of new ELLs. As a result, the district is anticipating an overall decrease of about 300 students.

Additionally, with the temporary federal COVID-19 relief funding no longer available, school districts must rely solely on their traditional funding sources, primarily a combination of state aid and local property taxes. 

To balance those factors, the budget proposal includes the reduction of about 36 positions through retirements and eliminating positions that have been difficult to fill and vacant for two years or more.

No employee will lose their job as a result of the strategic staff reduction planned for next school year. 

Staff-to-student ratios also will either remain the same or improve in 2025-26 compared to the current school year. 

“We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for recognizing the unique needs of our school district and community,” Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter said. 

“The anticipated and much-needed increase in our state aid for next year has allowed us to sustain our programs and services for students, as well as our commitment to minimizing the tax impact on our community.”

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Early voting by mail

Albany voters once again have the option to vote early by mail this year. 

Early voting by mail works much the same as traditional absentee voting and is available to everyone. 

The district also will continue to automatically send absentee ballots to people the Albany County Board of Elections designates as having a permanent disability or are in the military.

No tax impact for additional propositions

Voters will be asked to consider two school-related ballot propositions in addition to this year’s budget proposal and Board of Education elections. Neither proposition would have any additional impact on taxes.

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Proposition 2

This would allow the district to replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment at three schools: Montessori Magnet School, New Scotland Elementary School and Sheridan Preparatory Academy.

Work at Montessori and Sheridan Prep will involve replacing rooftop cooling units experiencing maintenance issues due to age. Two are at Montessori and will cost $610,000; one is at Sheridan Prep and will cost $820,000.

Work at New Scotland will involve installing additional cooling equipment to address the inability of the existing system to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout the school. Cost will be $3.57 million.

Total cost of the proposition is $5 million, all of which would be paid for through the district’s Capital Reserve Fund. There would be no additional taxes for this work.

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Proposition 3

This would allow the district to sell a small vacant parcel (one-tenth of an acre) located at 13 Binghamton St. off South Pearl. The district owns but has never occupied the property, and there are no buildings on the land.

Voter approval would allow the district to sell the property for a minimum of $1,000.

Voting locations

The City School District of Albany will hold in-person voting at locations city-wide May 20. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Not sure of your voting location?  to find out!

Absentee and mail-in voting

The City School District of Albany sends absentee ballots to people the Albany County Board of Elections designates as having a permanent disability or who are in the military. All residents also have the option to vote by mail.

Early voting by mail works much the same way that absentee voting does. The main difference is that the vote-by-mail option is available to everyone. 

You can call (518) 475-6015 and ask to have an absentee or mail-in vote application mailed to you, or download one from our website. You also can pick one up at any district building or Albany Public Library branch.

If you want an absentee or vote-by-mail ballot sent to your home, the district clerk must receive your completed application at least seven days before the vote – by Tuesday, May 13 at 4 p.m. 

If you want to pick up your absentee or vote-by-mail ballot in-person at the district headquarters in Academy Park, you must have your completed application to the clerk by 4 p.m. the day before the budget vote – Monday, May 19.

All absentee and vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on the day of the vote – Tuesday, May 20.

Two open board seats

Two seats on the City School District of Albany Board of Education will be up for election May 20. 

President Sridar Chittur, Ph.D., is seeking re-election to a third four-year term. He was originally elected in 2016, and re-elected in 2021. Vickie Smith has announced that she will not seek re-election after 9½ years as a board member, including terms as president, vice president and secretary. 

Three candidates will compete for two open seats.

The two candidates receiving the most votes May 20 will begin four-year terms on July 1.

What if the budget is not approved?

If voters do not approve the budget May 20, state law gives the Board of Education three options:

• Put up the same proposal for another vote;
• Present a revised budget proposal for voter consideration; or
• Adopt a contingency budget.

If the board opted for a second vote and it also failed, state law would require the district to adopt a contingency budget.

For 2025-26, a contingency budget would be $341,149,094 and would hold the tax levy to its current level as required by state law. 

In addition, under a contingency budget the administrative component cannot exceed that of the previous year. The district would need to eliminate $1,211,504 from the proposed budget to meet that requirement.

The state closely regulates any district operating under a contingency budget. It prohibits spending on student supplies, equipment and certain raises, to name a few items. Community groups also are required to pay to use school buildings when a district is operating under a contingency budget.

This would mean that, in addition to the prohibited spending noted above, the district would have to consider cuts to staffing and programs to meet the new contingency requirements.

Library vote information

In addition to school-related items on this year’s ballot, residents will be asked to vote on the Albany Public Library’s 2025-26 budget proposal and Board of Trustees election.

The library’s proposed budget for 2025-26 is $8,257,997. The total tax levy includes a 5% increase, which is below the library’s tax cap.

The proposed increase would mean that the owner of a $250,000 home would pay approximately $12.75 more in library taxes next year.

There are two library trustee positions up for election this year. 

For more information, or contact Stephanie Simon at (518) 708-3912.