Budget prioritizes essential student services and programs; requires 60% voter approval

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Scotia-Glenville residents will be asked to consider a two propositions. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the B-wing Gym at the high school. Here’s what to know before casting your ballot.

PROPOSITION 1: $67,128,658 budget for the 2025-26 school year
The plan maintains critical instructional programs, student support services, and key health and safety initiatives while investing in facility and equipment upkeep. The proposal preserves existing programs and services, including two school resource officers, an athletic trainer, mental health services, and cybersecurity infrastructure. It also supports ongoing maintenance of district facilities and operations.

PROPOSITION 2: Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Project
The purpose of the EV Infrastructure Upgrade Project reflects the district’s commitment to sustainability and innovation and will have no impact on the 2025-26 tax levy, making it a fiscally responsible investment in our future.

This $2.6 million capital project is a vital step in transitioning to a zero emission electric school bus fleet, as mandated by New York State by 2035. It includes parking lot reconstruction, installation of conduits, and upgrades to electrical services, ensuring our district is equipped to support up to 50 electric buses. These improvements will not only modernize our transportation infrastructure but also contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment for our students and community.

Additionally, the Beukendaal Building will be removed or demolished to create space for buses and chargers, further supporting this transition. We encourage you to learn more by watching the briefings to the board on April 7 and Nov. 4 of this school year.

• On May 7, the district held a Public Budget Hearing, click this link to watch.
• 2025-26 Budget newsletter, click link to read all the details.

What to know before casting your ballot – requires a supermajority (60% voter approval)

The proposed budget represents a 3.14% increase in spending over the current year, or $2,043,464, and includes a 5.09% increase in the tax levy. Because the proposed tax levy exceeds the district’s state calculated limit of 3.25%, the budget must be approved by 60% of the qualified voters to pass.

The tax levy is the total amount of money the district raises in taxes each year from all property owners. Tax rates are calculated by dividing the total amount of the levy by the total taxable assessed value. The tax rate is used to calculate individual tax bills.

• Under the proposed 2025-26 budget, the Glenville/Scotia tax rate would increase by an estimated 3.44%, to $25.44 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from the current $24.59 per $1,000.
• This represents an 85-cent increase in the per $1,000 assessed value tax rate.
• A home with an assessment of $160,000 would see an estimated tax bill increase of $136 per year, or $11.33 per month before factoring in the STAR rebate.
• The percentage increase in the tax levy does not typically align with the tax rate. This is attributable to the changes in assessed values from the prior year related to the change in the tax levy.
• Three Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTS) are moving onto the tax rolls in 2025-26 (CDTI, Shady Lane, and BelGioioso Cheese), and are estimated to generate an additional $21.6 million increased assessed value to the tax rolls.

What happens if 60% of voters do not approve the budget on May 20?

If voters defeat the budget, the district has two options:

1. Submit a revised budget for a revote on June 17, the designated statewide budget revote date.
2. Adopt a contingency budget immediately.

If the budget fails a second time, the Board of Education must adopt a contingency budget before July 1.

• State law mandates that the contingent budget:
• Includes no increase from the prior year’s tax levy.
• Eliminates all non-contingent expenses such as supplies, materials, equipment, and other expenditures.
• Allows plant and operations as contingent expenditures, so they do not have to be cut.
• Prohibits cuts to debt service.
• Ensures the administrative component does not comprise a greater percentage of the contingent budget, exclusive of the capital component, than:

• • The percentage it comprised in the prior year’s budget.
  • The percentage it comprised in the last proposed defeated budget.

A contingent budget for 2025-26 would require:

• A $1,699,295 reduction in the tax levy and school expenditures.
• The school district cannot exceed the 2024-25 tax levy.

Budget exit poll

After you vote, please take a brief survey from our student volunteers before you leave the polling place. It will be in paper and electronic form for convenience. The district will assess voter feedback to further inform our policies and spending plan.

School Board Election

Four candidates are competing for two vacant positions on the Board of Education, currently occupied by Kimberly Talbot and Emily Orr. Ms. Orr has decided not to seek reelection. Each seat comes with a three-year term and is unpaid. The candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order, determined by a random drawing: Kimberly C. Talbot, Kristina N. Coughlin, Angela V. Piazza, and Michael J. Torelli.

On May 7, the district held a Meet the Candidates Night, click this link to watch.

Kimberly C. Talbot

Kimberly C. Talbot serves as the current Vice President of the Board of Education and is seeking a third term. A 23-year resident of Scotia, Mrs. Talbot is deeply involved in the community. She and her husband Joe have three sons: one attending Schenectady County Community College, one at Scotia-Glenville High School, and the youngest at Scotia-Glenville Middle School.

Mrs. Talbot is a respite worker at AIM Services, where she provides care and support to children with disabilities, helping their caregivers maintain routines and achieve a work-life balance. She studied elementary education at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Lincoln and Warwick campuses, with minors in music education and fine arts. 

Mrs. Talbot co-founded The Fresh Table Pop-up Community Pantry in Scotia-Glenville and has been active in the PTA since 2009, including serving a term as president. She is a past president and current member of the Scotia Rotary Club, where she also serves as District Membership Chair and Rotary Zone Innovative Club Advocate. Her honors include the District 7190 Rotarian of the Year, the DeWitt Clinton Award, the PTA Founders Day Award, and recognition as one of 20 Outstanding Women.

Kristina N. Coughlin

Kristina N. Coughlin has been a Scotia resident for 13 years and is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. As a committed parent, she has two daughters–one attending Scotia-Glenville Middle School and another at Sacandaga Elementary School. Ms. Coughlin brings 25 years of experience in education and currently serves as the instructional coordinator at the North Greenbush Common School District. In this role, she oversees elementary and special education teachers, manages summer programs, and leads professional learning communities.

Her civic involvement includes serving as a Schenectady County Human Rights Commissioner and as a member of the Scotia-Glenville Superintendent’s DEI Advisory Council. She is also an active member of both the Sacandaga and Middle School PTAs.  

Ms. Coughlin holds an associate degree in early childhood education, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, and a master’s degree in special education. She also completed the Educational Administration Certification Program at The College of Saint Rose. Her state certifications include building and district leader, childhood and special education, and Title IX coordination and investigation.

Angela V. Piazza

Angela V. Piazza of Glenville is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. She and her husband, Nicholas, have lived in the district for 16 years and are parents to three daughters—one at Scotia-Glenville Middle School and two at Sacandaga Elementary School. 

Mrs. Piazza has been a public school educator for 19 years and currently works as a speech-language pathologist at North Colonie Central Schools. She serves on the Committee on Special Education, where she conducts evaluations, provides individualized therapy, implements interventions, and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team. Her expertise includes child development, special education, and school culture. She also owns AVP Speech Therapy, through which she contracts with Schenectady County to provide services for preschool children.

She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and maintains her state license and teaching certification through ongoing professional development.

A graduate of Schoharie Central School, Mrs. Piazza earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland and completed her Master of Science in Education at The College of Saint Rose, focusing on communication sciences and disorders. Mrs. Piazza is actively involved in the PTA, serves her church community, and has coached girls soccer and basketball at the high school level.

Michael J. Torelli

Michael J. Torelli is a lifelong Scotia resident, a 1999 alumni, and is seeking a first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife, Susan, have three children: a son at Scotia-Glenville High School, a daughter at Scotia-Glenville Middle School, and another daughter at Lincoln Elementary School.

Mr. Torelli is the general manager and owner of Star Roofing, a full-service residential and commercial roofing company. He is also an Eagle Scout, reflecting his long-standing dedication to community service and leadership.

Mr. Torelli holds a degree in actuarial mathematics from the University at Albany. His civic involvement includes serving on the administrative council of the First Reformed Church of Scotia and coaching various youth sports, such as Junior Tartans football, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. He also served on the board of 50 FC.

Through Star Roofing, he sponsors and supports local organizations such as St. Anne Institute, the Animal Protective Foundation, The Cure Foundation, and Albany Med Cares for Kids.