Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school B-wing gym on Tuesday, May 16
Scotia-Glenville residents will be asked to consider a $62,959,582 budget for the 2023-24 school year. The proposal maintains all current programs and services for students and preserves critical health and safety features of the current budget, including cyber security, a School Resource Officer, athletic trainer, and mental health services.
The proposed spending plan increases by 4.45% or $2,684,633 from the current year, and includes a tax levy increase of 2.99% or $941,814. With an estimated tax rate increase of 2.09%, the tax bill on a $160,000 home would increase by an estimated $79.84 per year or $6.65 per month before STAR.
This proposed spending plan was approved by the Board of Education on March 27 after weeks of working sessions to refine the total carry-forward budget of $63,198,425 that carried a tax levy increase of 4.08%. The maximum allowable increase under the tax cap calculation is 4.33%.
“Everyone in this room would tell you we have more needs than we can meet,” said Superintendent Swartz. “In a perfect world there would be lots of things we would do here if money were no object. However, I would just remind the board that you have done a really good job of trying to move things forward and still be mindful of both the tax levy cap and also what our community can bear.”
Bus purchase proposition on ballot
As part of the district’s ongoing bus replacement plan, the ballot will also include a proposition to purchase one 72-passenger school bus, one 57-passenger bus with wheelchair capacity, and one Suburban in an amount of $415,000. There is no tax impact for this purchase in the 2023-24 budget.
Four candidates running for school board
Residents will also have the opportunity to select candidates for three open seats on the Board of Education. They are: Karnjit Singh, Kimberly Boucher Furnish, Pamela Carbone, and Richard Frederick.
Public hearing and Meet the Candidates Night
A public hearing on the proposed budget is set for Wednesday, May 3 at 7 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria. The community can attend in person or watch the livestream through the district’s YouTube channel by using this link. Immediately following the hearing, will be a Meet the Candidates forum.
Budget Exit Poll
After you vote, please take a brief survey from our student volunteers before you leave the polling place. The district will assess voter feedback to further inform our policies and spending plan.
How to request an absentee ballot to vote
Qualified voters who will be out of town or unable to vote in person due
to illness or disability can vote by absentee ballot. You must complete
an application to receive a ballot.
Absentee ballot applications can be obtained by contacting District
Clerk Bobbie DeLong by phone at (518) 347-3600 ext. 73102 or email
bdelong@sgcsd.net. Ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday,
May 16 in order to be counted.
Additional information
All board meetings and budget working sessions were conducted in an open process and streamed live on the district’s YouTube page. Video links and presentation documents can also be found on the Budget & Taxes page of our website.