Board proposes budget with 1.85% estimated tax rate increase
2025-26 proposal focused on preserving programming and staffing
On Tuesday, May 20, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District residents will go to the polls to vote on a proposed $89,199,500 budget for the 2025-26 school year. Voters will also be asked to elect two candidates to the Board of Education .
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the gym at BH-BL High School on Tuesday, May 20.
The proposed budget carries a 1.85% estimated weighted average tax rate increase with a 2.98% tax levy increase, making this the 14th consecutive year the district has proposed a budget below the state’s tax cap.
Overall spending in the proposed budget will increase by $4.27 million, or 5.04%. A portion of the increase is due to onboarding debt associated with the voter-approved 2023 capital project. Work for this project is beginning this spring. (See page 5 for a project timeline.) Another reason for the increase has more to do with a change in how the state wants districts to account for certain expenditures, explains Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christopher Abdoo.
“The district is fortunate to have secured grants through the New York State Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP) for the purchase of two 70-passenger electric buses next school year. While those grants will be applied at the dealership to reduce the cost to the district, the state has indicated that school districts are now required to record the full cost of the bus purchases (without the grants) on the expenditure side of the budget as well as the grant funding on the revenue side of the budget.”
In addition, new requirements related to Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statement 87 also require districts to record expenditures and revenues associated with instructional technology (IT) services the district receives from the Northeast Regional Information Center.
“It is important to note that since the accounting entries for both the NYSBIP grant and GASB 87 are made on both the expenditure and revenue side of the budget, they do not have an impact on the district’s tax levy or tax rate,” adds Abdoo.
After netting out these accounting requirements, the effective year-over-year budget increase is approximately 4.22%.
2025-26 Budget Planning
Along with relying on the district’s long-range financial plan as a guide for preserving academic offerings and services, the Board of Education was also highly committed to developing a budget that was sensitive to higher inflation rates (energy costs, supplies and materials, contractual services, and instructional resources) that residents and, thus, the district is experiencing. They sought to offset these rises by identifying cost-saving measures, through attrition and realignment of positions.
Superintendent Dr. Patrick McGrath shared, “Like our residents and local businesses, our school district is navigating the complexities of higher inflation. Recognizing these economic headwinds, the Board of Education has been diligent in ensuring our financial stability so that we can continue to invest in the programs and services our students need to thrive, both now and in the future.”
What’s included in the proposal?
Through strategic realignment and continued careful fiscal planning, the board is proposing a budget that does the following:
- Preserves programming and supports that were added over the past few years to target student needs and interests. These include such services as the K-5 math intervention specialists who provide early intervention and support for mathematical skill development to build a solid math foundation. It also includes preserving the elementary school counselors who work with students on social-emotional and character development skills, career awareness, and offer individual and group services and guidance to support healthy minds. It also includes the expansion of
the Mandarin Chinese language elective through grade 12. - Expands the district’s music program. Over the past three years, there has been a 500 percent increase among students participating in this program. As a result, string instrument instructional time and space is beyond capacity, and the orchestra ensemble is extremely overcrowded. This budget includes funding to expand the orchestra program by adding a part-time instructor and an additional level of orchestra at the high school.
- Continues to support new instructional resources to replace the outdated classroom materials. This includes further support of the K-5 English Language Arts series that is better aligned to the science of reading and current research around literacy acquisition. It also continues to fund required science lab materials and supplies that align with the new science standards and enhance the hands-on learning experience for students.
- Supports extracurricular offerings. This budget includes shifting costs associated with the crew and ice hockey programs into the operating budget. Ice hockey is a shared program with the Ballston Spa School District, and the team’s home rink is the Schenectady County Recreational Facility Ice Rink. The crew program has its team row out of a boathouse on the Mohawk River. The proposed budget now includes operating expenses for these established interscholastic athletic programs, which are currently funded, to a large extent, by parents of team members. The budget also supports new clubs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
- Streamlines school-to-home communication. This budget prioritizes efficient and direct school-to-home communication through the implementation of ParentSquare. This innovative app provides parents/guardians with a single, easy-to-use platform to connect with teachers, administration, coaches, and other educators supporting their child’s education, to foster stronger partnerships and keep vital information readily available.
“Strategic budget management and planning by the board ensures the sustainable continuation of federally funded programs, allowing us to maintain our comprehensive student offerings that our community is used to,” says Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. David Collins. “This unwavering commitment underscores our enduring belief that putting students first is the cornerstone of providing a rich and successful educational experience.”
Budget Q&A
Q. What happens if voters do not approve the proposed budget?
Under New York state law, if the school budget is defeated, the BH-BL Board of Education typically has two options: put the same or a modified budget up for another vote on the third Tuesday in June, or immediately adopt a contingent budget. If residents defeat the proposed budget during a second vote, the board must adopt a contingent budget.
Contingent Budget Rules
Under New York state law, districts that adopt a contingent budget cannot increase the current tax levy by any amount—resulting in a zero percent tax levy increase.
Bringing the BH-BL tax levy increase down to zero would force the board to reduce the proposed budget by $1,377,502. In doing this, the board may not be able to adhere to its goal of preserving student programs and services or staff, or expanding academic and extracurricular programming. It would also likely have to make a number of staff reductions across all schools, which would increase class sizes.
Adopting a contingent budget also prohibits a district from spending any money in certain areas, including community use of school facilities (unless all costs are reimbursed to the district); new equipment purchases
including school buses; nonessential maintenance; capital expenditures (except in emergencies); salary increases for non-instructional and non-unionized employees; and certain field trips and student supplies. These requirements existed prior to the tax levy cap and remain in effect.
Q. Are new buses being purchased for next year?
A. Yes, new buses, both electric and diesel, are included in the budget for next school year. The total estimated cost of the new buses is included in the budget proposal rather than as a separate proposition. Bus purchases are done this way so the district doesn’t have to borrow funds and incur debt. The proposal includes $1,640,954* for the purchase of new buses to replace some of the district’s oldest buses. (*This figure includes funding for two full-size electric buses. However, electric buses will only be purchased if the district receives grant funding for a significant portion of the total cost.)
The district anticipates being reimbursed approximately 72.5 percent or $1.19 million of the cost of the buses through state transportation aid in subsequent years. Additionally, by purchasing buses outright, the district saves an estimated $40,000 annually in interest and legal fees associated with borrowing funds.
Bus Replacement Plan
The buses scheduled to be replaced in the 2025-26 school year are among the oldest in the district’s fleet and have already accumulated high mileage, exceeded their warranties, and undergone many maintenance repairs. Beyond certain limits, buses typically become too costly to maintain given the state’s stringent safety codes. Furthermore, new school buses are aligned with the latest safety and emissions standards and have better fuel economy rates.
BH-BL’s 69-bus fleet travels more than 750,000 miles a year, transporting more than 3,100 students to and from its five schools. The buses are also used for sporting events, out-of-district school placement runs, shared transportation runs, field trips, summer school, and other events.
In order to keep buses in safe working order, the district’s long-standing policy has been to replace several of the oldest buses each year.
Q. Are there any tax savings programs available to help taxpayers?
Homeowners can receive a property tax exemption or credit under the School Tax Relief (STAR) program.
The Basic STAR* exemption or credit is available on a homeowner’s primary residence for anyone who owns and lives in his/her own home. Homeowners who earn $500,000 or less can receive a STAR credit. Homeowners earning $250,000 or less can receive a STAR exemption.
The Enhanced STAR exemption is available on the primary residence of taxpayers age 65 and older with yearly incomes of $107,200 or less.
Other Tax Relief Options
BH-BL residents over the age of 65 with incomes of $37,400 or less also can be exempted from paying school taxes on 5 to 50 percent of their home’s assessed value depending on their exact income. The district also grants a disability exemption, ranging from 5 to 50 percent, for qualifying residents of any age with disabilities and incomes of less than $37,400.
The board adopted the Alternative Veterans’ Tax Exemption and, more recently, the Firefighters’ Tax Exemption, which allows qualifying veterans and firefighters to be exempted from paying school taxes on a portion of their home’s assessed value depending on their military and fire service.
Applications for these district exemptions and the state’s STAR program must be filed with your town assessor’s office. Please visit your town’s website or call your town assessor if you have questions.
Board of Education Candidates
Meet-the-Candidates Night, May 14
Learn more about the candidates at a community-hosted event at O’Rourke MS Library at 7 p.m. Residents are asked to submit questions ahead of time. Follow this link to submit questions via Google Form.
Vote for TWO
On May 20, residents may also elect two members to the Board of Education for three-year terms.
James Robertson is seeking his first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife Leigh Ann have been district residents for 14 years. They have two children who attend Charlton Heights Elementary School. James attended Kansas State University and is a mechanical engineer for Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. James has been involved in a variety of district and community organizations over the years, including FIRST Lego League, Drama Club, Girls Wrestling, and Earth Day clean up. He also was a 2023 Capital Project Committee member. For the past 20 years he has been a donor for the American Red Cross and a volunteer SCUBA diver for local Sea Perch competitions.
Here is James’ position statement:
“I have been a Burnt Hills resident for 14 years and have witnessed firsthand the great reputation BH-BL has of providing an excellent education. I have really enjoyed meeting the teachers, administration, and staff while our kids are in elementary school. I am appreciative of the hard work they put in and want to help continue the BH-BL tradition by running for Board of Education.
I’m a mechanical engineer at Knoll’s Atomic Power Laboratory. I enjoy engineering because it teaches you to seek facts, follow data, and build a solution. The facts are that our student population is growing, our buildings are heavily used, and our staff’s salaries have not kept up with inflation.
My top two priorities are to make sure that our buildings provide an effective learning environment and that our staff are compensated for the great job they do. In 2023, I was fortunate to participate on the Capital Improvement Bond Committee as a parent representative from Charlton Heights. It was an incredible experience being able to see the spaces our students spend their day in, meet the teachers and administrators that give their best to our kids, and getting to know other members of the community. I’m excited to see that work is starting this spring with a new road from High Mills to the middle school, starting the classroom addition at Pashley, expanding the parking lot at Charlton Heights, followed by renovating dozens of classrooms and bathrooms across the district over the next few years. I’m glad to see the investment we are making in our buildings, especially the elementary schools. Based on NY state data from the 2023-24 school year, 46% of students in the district are in the elementary schools. I believe it is important to have a parent from the elementary schools on the Board of Education, which we currently don’t have. We must also invest in our staff. They are the ones that show up every day for our kids. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2021 and 2024 inflation rose 15%. Our staff is our greatest resource and we must make sure they are compensated appropriately.
If elected, I will work with administration and faculty to continue to invest in our buildings and our people. I will also listen to the community, administration, and faculty, striking the right balance of all those involved to resolve new challenges. I respectfully ask for your vote and thank you for your time.”
Michael Libertucci is seeking his first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife Meghan have been Glenville residents for 10 years, and they have two children attending O’Rourke Middle School. Michael is a 9th-grade English teacher in the Schalmont school district. He is also a graduate of Schalmont High School, has his Bachelor’s Degree in English from SUNY Albany, and his Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from the College of St. Rose. He has been involved in the community as a youth sports coach, a member of the wrestling and field hockey booster clubs, and a member of the Scotia and Glenville Shared Services Committees. He is also a NYS United Teachers Leadership Institute graduate and an active member of the Adirondack 46ers.
Here is Michael’s position statement:
“Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake is a tremendous school district, with many outstanding programs and opportunities for our children. Whenever I attend my children’s concerts, sporting events, and other school programs, the idea of “Spartan Pride” is apparent. You can’t help but take pride in our school community.
As a parent of two middle school students and a teacher with over 20 years of experience in the 7-12 classroom, I see what our children bring to school with them every day. I believe public education is a foundation of our democracy, and the great equalizer of our society. Regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, location, or ability, the promise of a public education is something that every person in the United States should be entitled to. As the challenges facing public schools mount, it is imperative to have school board members who are aware of the challenges, but also see them first hand on a daily basis. From the ways technology is consumed, to the mental health crisis that is plaguing our nation, to students who come to school hungry, to staring down an uncertain economic future, our children need a stable education system, with a strong foundation of support in place, now more than ever. As an educator, and parent, I am well-suited to offer an informed viewpoint on how to pave the way for our children to be successful.
During these economic times, creating a sound, fiscally responsible budget for the community, that addresses the needs of our students, maintains all of the great programs available, but also addresses the issues that public education will cross in the future is imperative. According to the NYS School Boards Association, it is estimated that in the next 10 years, New York will face a teacher shortage of over 180,000 teachers. This is a staggering number that will have a direct impact on our students. I am excited to work with all of the district’s shareholders to ensure BH-BL attracts, and retains the very best candidates available to guarantee our children continue to have a high-quality public education.
BH-BL provides our children with an excellent education, in the classroom, in the concert hall, on the athletic fields/mats, and in the community. The challenges that lie ahead will need strong leadership, and people with the expertise in the field of education. I am asking for your vote, as I will bring these attributes, and more to the Board of Education.”