What you need to know about Schenectady County school budget votes

Here’s what you need⁣ to know:

Scotia-Glenville School District: Budget and Candidates

Despite facing a budget rejection​ last year and a $2.7 million‍ budget deficit,⁤ the Scotia-Glenville Central ​School District managed to balance its budget through attrition ​and the closure of‍ the Glen-Worden elementary⁣ school. The budget is set at the district’s tax cap.

• Proposed⁢ budget: $67,155,932
• Spending increase: ⁤$642,238 or ⁢0.97%
• Tax levy increase: ⁤ $615,267‍ or 1.78%
• Proposition ⁣2: ‍Acquisition of a wheelchair-accessible ⁣diesel bus for $214,000
• Proposition ​3: Infrastructure upgrades for⁤ electric vehicles costing $3 million

For the Board of Education, three seats are up for grabs⁢ with five candidates in the running. Current members ‌Kimberly Boucher Furnish and Karnjit Singh are seeking re-election for their ⁤second‍ terms. Pamela Carbone,⁣ a long-standing board member with 30 years of service, has decided not to run for re-election.

The other candidates are:

• Jason McCord, a Glenville resident who ⁢currently serves as the director of communications at the⁣ Schalmont Central School ⁣District ⁢and volunteers with the Glen-Worden PTA.
• Amy Marlette, ⁤a Scotia resident ‍and human resources consultant. She volunteers with the Sacandaga Drama Dragons.
• Katie Walters, a Glenville resident and ⁤a special education teacher at the Schenectady City School District. She also volunteers‌ with ‌the Glen-Worden PTA, served as ⁤a homeroom parent and as an‌ assistant coach for several youth leagues.

Voting will take place⁣ from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the​ high⁣ school’s B-Wing Gym.

Mohonasen School District: Budget and Candidates

The Mohonasen Central School District budget ‍is ⁤at its⁢ tax ‌cap, with no staff positions⁢ being eliminated. ⁢Furthermore, all the⁤ school buildings are currently​ undergoing‍ infrastructure improvements.

• Proposed budget: $77,270,000
• Spending‍ increase: $5,570,000 or 7.77%
• Tax levy increase: $1,036,436 or 3.20%
• Proposition 2: Acquisition⁣ of⁢ four ​diesel buses for $975,000

On the Board of Education, two seats are ⁤available. ​Current ‍members Danielle Ciampino and Patrick Ryan are seeking their second and fourth terms, respectively.

Voting will take place from 7⁢ a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Mohonasen High⁢ School gym.

Schalmont School⁢ District: Budget⁤ and​ Candidates

The Schalmont Central⁢ School District ⁢budget is below its allowed tax cap and retains all staff members without program cuts. The⁣ budget also continues the pre-K program started this ‍year at ⁤Woestina⁣ Elementary School.

• Proposed budget: $61,854,952
• Spending increase: $1,644,718 or 2.7%
• Tax⁣ levy increase: $594,713 or⁢ 1.95%
• Proposition 2: Acquisition of five buses for $764,722.15
• Proposition 3: Establishment of a Bus and Vehicle Reserve Fund for future vehicle purchases

There are two ​available Board of ‍Education seats and three candidates.⁤ Current members William Mau and Kevin ‌Thompson are seeking ​their second and eighth terms, respectively. Makayla ‍Tebano, a mom of multiple‌ Schalmont students and current⁣ Vice President of Marketing at Fenimore Asset Management, is also running.

Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the⁤ High School Gym ‌lobby.

Schenectady School District: Budget and Candidates

For the eighth consecutive year, the ‌Schenectady City School District will not ⁤increase taxes. It also maintains all staffing and programs.

• Proposed budget: $310,543,870
• Spending increase: $15,029,055 or 5.09%
• Tax levy increase: 0%
• Proposition 2: ​ Acquisition of‌ 1080 Catalyn ‌St. ‍for a maintenance building at $850,000
• Proposition 3: Acquisition of 80 Nott Terrace for ⁣continuing ‌education and adult programming for $3.5⁤ million
• Proposition ‍4: Approval of​ a 20-year lease at‌ Center City for the early college education programs with a total cost over 20 years ‍of $11,374,781.01

There ‍are ​three open seats on the⁢ Board ⁣of​ Education and three⁤ candidates. One seat ​is vacant, and current member Amanda Sponable-Pantalone is not seeking⁣ re-election.⁢ President Bernice ⁤Rivera⁣ is seeking her fourth term. Daniel Flynn and Rennie Glasgow are seeking their⁣ first terms.

Voting will take place​ from noon ‍to 9 p.m. There are eight polling locations, and residents can find their polling location on the‌ school​ district website.

Niskayuna School District: ‌Budget and Candidates

The Niskayuna Central School District ​budget ⁣is at the tax cap and involves staffing cuts and additions, resulting ‍in ‌a 0.3‍ Full Time Equivalent staff‌ reduction.

• Proposed ⁢budget: $121,302,975
• Spending ‍increase: $5,181,694 or 4.46%
• Tax‍ levy increase: ‌ $1,637,000 or 2.47%
• Proposition 2: Acquisition of nine buses⁣ for​ $1,828,479

For the Board of Education, there are three candidates‍ for two seats. Current ⁣President Jessica LaFex is running for her second term. Sarah Tishler is ‌not running for‍ re-election.

The ‍other candidates, alphabetically, are:

• My’Lisse Kochan, a long-time resident ⁤with children​ in⁣ Niskayuna ‌schools
• Jonathan Vaillancourt, a 12-year resident with children in ‍the district

Voting will ⁢take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the‍ Niskayuna High ⁢School.

Duanesburg​ School‍ District: Budget and Candidates

The Duanesburg Central School District ‍budget proposal is just under the district’s tax⁢ cap. Though spending increased, the district said it was mostly driven by mandated costs such as health⁣ insurance. ⁤It will add three new ⁤positions.

• Proposed budget: $22,998,000
• Spending ⁢increase: $2,312,000 or 11.18%
• Tax levy increase: ⁢ $268,758 or 2.90%
• Proposition ​2: Acquisition ‍of two buses for $325,000

There are five Board of Education candidates vying for two⁣ seats. Toni Amorosi is running ‌for her third term. Alyssa Craig⁣ is not running for ⁤re-election.

The⁢ others are, in alphabetical order:

• Brandon ‌Bailey, a Delanson resident who works as a⁢ New York State Court ​Officer and volunteers with the Duanesburg Little⁣ League.
• Craig Macherone, a Duanesburg resident who has served in multiple roles with the⁤ district including on the selection committee⁣ for the ‍elementary⁢ school principal.
• Dana Mesick, a Delanson resident currently serving his‍ fourth year⁢ on‍ the​ Delanson Planning Board.
• Joshua ‍Obercon, ⁤a Duanesburg resident and director⁢ of the Duanesburg Basketball Association. He also serves on the Duanesburg Ambulance.

Voting will ​take place from 1 to​ 9 ‍p.m.⁣ at the DCS Transportation Building.