Scotia-Glenville Central School District Budget
May 20 annual budget vote and school board election
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school B-wing Gym.
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Scotia-Glenville residents will be asked to consider a $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 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 requires a supermajority (60% voter approval) to pass.
For a home with an assessed value of $160,000, the estimated tax increase would be approximately $136 per year, or about $11.33 per month, before any STAR savings are applied.
What the budget supports
The proposed plan preserves existing programs and student 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.
In addition to voting on the school budget, residents will also consider a second proposition for an electric vehicle infrastructure upgrade project that will not impact the tax levy. The proposed referendum supports the district’s transition to a zero-emission electric bus fleet by 2035, as mandated by the state.
Board of Education election
Four candidates are competing for two vacant seats 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. You can read about each candidate in this link and attend or watch the May 7 Meet the Candidates Night on the district’s YouTube channel.
Budget information packet for 2025-26
Process calendar for 2025-2026 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 7.
January 2025
- Month of January Departmental discussions on budgets
- January 27 Presentation of State Aid for 25/26 budget
February 2025
- February 10 Carry-Forward Update, First Tax Cap Discussion, Bus Proposition discussion
Summary of 2/10 meeting - February 24 Special Meeting- 1st draft Carry-Forward Budget, Board decision on Tax Cap
(Canceled – no quorum due to illness)
March 2025
- March 1 Property Tax Cap Reports Due
- March 3 Petitions for BOE Seats Available in District Office
Budget Work Session- Susan- 1st draft of Recommended Budget, Contingency Budget
Summary of 3/3 meeting - March 10 Budget Work Session- Susan
Summary of 3/10 meeting - March 17 Budget Work Session- Susan
- Resolution for Legal Notice for Annual District Election, EV Project Prop
Possible Adoption of Budget
Summary of 3/17 meeting - March 24 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
Summary of 3/24 meeting - March 31 Special Meeting – one item, adopt a spending limit for the 25-26 budget
Summary of 3/31 meeting
April 2025
- April 7 First Legal Notice
- April 21 Deadline for petitions turned into Business Office
- April 22 Drawing for ballot positions
- April 25 Military Ballots mailed
- April 23 Special Board Meeting (BOCES budget vote)
May 2025
- May 7 Public Hearing and Meet the Candidate Night
- May 10 Last day to register to vote with the County
- May 14 Last day to request an absentee ballot or early ballot be mailed
- May 15 Budget Notice Mailed
- May 19 Last day to request an absentee ballot in person
- May 20 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 2025, that would be April 20.
- You can either mail or personally deliver your ballot to District Clerk Jill Busman 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.