Scotia-Glenville Central School District Budget
2026-27 Budget Vote and School Board Election
on May 19 from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. in the High School B-Wing Gym
Making well-informed choices regarding our school district’s budget is essential. The district and Board of Education are committed to working together with our community to thoughtfully navigate these challenges.
Process calendar for 2026-2027 budget
Make your voice heard with your vote and throughout the budget approval process. The Public Budget Hearing and Meet the Candidate Night is on Wednesday, May 6. The Statewide Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election is on May 19 from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. in the High School B-Wing Gym.
January 2026
Month of January departmental discussions on budgets
January 26
February 2026
February 9
- Carry-Forward Update
- First Tax Cap Discussion
- Bus Proposition & EV Project
- Proposition Discussion
February 23
- Board Decision on Tax Cap
March 2026
March 1
- Property Tax Cap Reports Due
March 2
- Petitions for BOE Seats Available in District Office
- Budget Work Session – Superintendent Swartz – 1st draft of Recommended Budget, Contingency Budget
March 9
- Budget Work Session – Superintendent Swartz
March 16
- Budget Work Session- Superintendent Swartz
- Resolution for Legal Notice for Annual District Election, Bus Prop, EV Project Prop
- Possible Adoption of Budget
March 23
- Regular Board Meeting -Final Date for Adoption of Budget
- Property Tax Report Card due w/in 24 hours of budget adoption
- Appoint Chairperson, Chief Inspector, Inspectors and Assistant Clerks for Annual District Election
April 2026
April 2-April 6
- First Legal Notice
April 20
- Deadline for petitions turned into Business Office
April 21
- Drawing for ballot positions
April 24
- Military Ballots mailed
April 29
- Special Board Meeting (BOCES budget vote)
May 2026
May 6
- Public Budget Hearing
- Meet the Candidate Night
May 9
- Last day to register to vote with the County
May 12
- Last day to request an absentee ballot or early ballot be mailed
May 13
- Budget Notice Mailed
May 18
- Last day to request an absentee ballot in person
May 19
- 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Statewide Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election in the High School B-Wing Gym
- 5:00 p.m. deadline for receipt of absentee ballots
Who can vote?
Community members who are U.S. citizens may vote in the school elections if they:
- Have been a resident for at least 30 days before the May vote;
- Are at least 18 years old.
The district uses registration books from the Schenectady County Board of Elections. If you are not registered, you may vote by showing an official proof of residency.
Ability to vote by mail or in person
Can I mail my ballot?
You must fill out an application to vote by early voting or absentee ballot. There are separate applications for voting by early voting or absentee ballot, but the application process and deadlines are the same for both.
- Applications for absentee and early mail in ballots cannot be accepted more than 30 days before the election. This year, in 2026, that would be April 19.
- You can either mail or personally deliver your ballot to District Clerk Cathy Smith at the S-G District Office, located at 900 Preddice Parkway, Scotia, NY 12302.
Absentee ballots
Residents who are disabled, hospitalized or out of town on the day of the school budget vote may cast absentee ballots. They are available at the Scotia-Glenville business office, 900 Preddice Parkway (end of Lark Street), Scotia. (518) 347-3600, ext. 7102
- Absentee voters must first complete this application to vote and then complete the ballot itself.
Early mail ballots
In addition, the Early Mail Voter Act, effective January 1, 2024, allows for early voting via mail without any reasons needed for voting early.
- Early mail voters must first complete this application to vote and then complete the ballot itself.
What if the budget were defeated?
If the school budget were defeated once, it could be amended and a second vote scheduled. If the budget were defeated twice, the Board of Education must adopt a contingency budget – meaning the tax levy would be the same as the current year’s tax levy.
How does the state’s STAR program affect my tax bill?
The New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR), which applies only to primary residences, is paid by the state to the school district and is not administered by Scotia-Glenville.
There are two STAR programs: an older program reduces the STAR amount directly from school tax bills in September; the newer program sends the STAR amount to homeowners as a rebate check in the fall.
Basic STAR
The STAR program in 2025-26 would reduce school tax bills in Glenville by an estimated maximum of $502 for Basic STAR recipients. Property owners with incomes below $500,000 are eligible.
Enhanced STAR
For property owners who receive the Enhanced STAR deduction, the Glenville reduction in 2025-26 would be an estimated maximum of $1,199. Enhanced STAR is for property owners over age 65 with incomes of less than $107,300.