Attention Scotia-Glenville residents:
The annual school budget and Board of Education election is upon us. District residents will be asked to consider a $67,155,932 budget for the 2026-27 school year. This proposal follows state mandates while ensuring all current programs, services, and extracurricular activities remain intact for our students. It also secures funding for two full-time school resource officers.
The proposed budget reflects a spending increase of less than 1% or $642,238 from the current year. It also includes a tax levy rise of 1.78%, amounting to $615,267. For a home with an assessed value of $160,000, the estimated tax increase would be approximately $102 per year, or about $8.50 per month, before any STAR savings are applied.
In addition to the proposed budget, there will be two additional propositions included on the ballot, neither of which impact the tax levy for the 2026-27 budget.
Proposition 2, Diesel bus purchase: A proposal to purchase a new 57-passenger, wheelchair-accessible diesel bus for $214,000, replacing the 12-year-old wheelchair-accessible Bus 213. The new bus, expected between September and November 2026, offers more seating for efficient routing and matches the capacity of an existing wheelchair bus. The retired bus will be auctioned, with proceeds helping to cover debt service payments, which won’t impact the budget until the 2027-28 school year. The district plans to pay off the bond over five years, resulting in a net annual cost of $14,248 after state transportation aid from 2027 to 2032.
Proposition 3, The Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Upgrade Project: The EV Infrastructure Upgrade Project reflects the district’s commitment to sustainability without affecting the 2026-27 tax levy. This project is part of a NYS mandate requiring all school buses purchased to be zero-emission by 2027 and the entire fleet to be electric by 2035. Furthermore, it is anticipated that there will be no tax impact in future years for this $3 million project due to incentives from the New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP) and National Grid, as well as transportation aid and building aid.
Board of Education Candidates: Voters will choose from five candidates vying for three available seats on the school board. Each position comes with a three-year, unpaid term. The sequence in which candidates will appear on the ballot was determined by a random drawing: Jason McCord, Karnjit Singh, Kimberly Boucher Furnish, Katie Walters and Amy Marlette. Learn about the candidates in this link.
Exit poll: After voting, residents can complete an anonymous exit survey to provide feedback that will inform future budget decisions and communication about budget information.