The 26-member panel appointed to gauge the feasibility of North Colonie School District’s annexation of Maplewood-Colonie Common Schools has decided that the matter will go before taxpayers of the respective districts in May.
As part of the schools’ annual budget votes, district residents will be polled to see whether they are in favor or not of the proposed merger.
If the annexation goes through, Maplewood’s residential and commercial properties will see a reduction in school taxes. Maplewood officials have estimated that commercial properties alone could stand to see their taxes cut by more than half.
In North Colonie, the district could stand to gain $30 million in aid over the course of 14 years and see additional returns on its share of capital projects.
The committee will meet for the last time Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Maplewood School to address any additional questions committee members may have before turning the matter over to the public.`