Proposed S-G budget to raise taxes 5% By MARY MARTIALAY Gazette Reporter     SCOTIA — The Scotia-Glenville Board of Education is proposing to increase school spending by $1.93 million to $37.35 million, with most of the increase driven by pension contributions, health insurance and utilities.     If approved by the voters, the budget for the 2004-2005 school year will raise taxes 5.14 percent.     New programs in the proposed budget include a special education program focusing on local schools, a BOCES gifted and talented program, and restoring an elementary summer school program.     But the district was also forced to cut back on teaching hours, which will raise some elementary class sizes, eighth-grade core academic classes, and a program for high school students with discipline or academic problems.     If the budget does not pass a May 18 public vote, the district warns that a contingency budget would require additional cuts of $1.1 million. On the line are popular programs like middle school sports, after-school clubs and librarians at two elementary schools.     Superintendent Michael Marcelle said the tax increase is "on the low end" of proposed increases in the area, and he hopes it may decrease if the state bumps up state aid and town assessments are favorable.     "We’ve included a conservative figure for state aid, and we’re encouraged by the preliminary assessments in the town of Glenville which makes up 98 percent of our tax base," Marcelle said.     Under the proposed budget, tax payments will increase from $26.14 per $1,000 of property value to $27.48. For an average house valued at $100,000, that translates to an increase of $134.30 over the current payment of $2,614. For the average homeowner with Basic STAR — the state program to ease property taxes for senior citizens —taxes will rise to $1,993, and enhanced STAR taxes will rise to $1,489.     Voters will also be asked to approve a $300,000 bond issue to purchase three new buses, two Chevrolet Suburbans, one van and two large lawn mowers. One of the mowers is more than 30 years old, and each of the buses, have been in use since 1995 and have badly corroded underbodies. Board election     And voters will chose two board members from a slate of three candidates, including one incumbent. Margaret Smith, a special education teacher, has served on the board for six years. Joseph P. Crisafulli, a program manager for the state Department of Motor Vehicles, has served as treasurer of Glen-Worden PTA and as a coach for a recreational soccer league. And Jerry More is a human rights commissioner for Schenectady County and co-chairman of the county Jail Oversight Committee, and has a law degree from Ohio State University.