Capital projects and bus propositions also meet voter approval
DELMAR, COLONIE and RAVENA – Local school district taxpayers in a generous mood overwhelmingly passed school district budgets, bus propositions and capital project proposals. Voters also elected new trustees and rewarded incumbents with a return to their board seats.
Bethlehem Central School District
In another year without a challenge to the state tax cap or any major spending increases, Bethlehem Central School District residents passed the district’s $114, 037, 534 million spending plan for the 2024-25 school year by a wide margin.
On Tuesday, May 21, the budget passed by a margin of 2, 229 votes to 777 votes or 74% in favor. Voters will now see a tax levy increase of about 3.25 percent, which is below the district’s maximum allowable tax levy increase under New York state’s tax cap calculation set at 5.29%.
The approved budget represents an increase of 6.89% or $7, 346, 231 over this year’s $106, 691, 303 budget. The budget plan does not incorporate any use of the district’s fund balance.
According to a district statement, next year’s budget plan “balances students’ needs against a backdrop of post-pandemic inflation. The plan reflects higher costs of employee benefits, prescription medicines and retirement contributions. However, budgetary salary costs were noted as down 1.1% or $628, 896 less than this year’s salary costs. The reduction is due to staffing losses through attrition.
Residents said they came out to vote as part of their civic duty, rather than being issue driven. “It’s my duty and my privilege,” said Delmar resident Yossi Koren-Roth, 65. “I never miss voting, not matter what it’s for.”
In a tight run for two open school Board seats incumbent Katherine Nadeau won her second term with 1, 825 votes, along with newcomer Lauren Grasso, who received 1, 437. They will begin a three year term on July 1, 2024. Jason MacLaughlin, who was also running for a board seat and had been outspoken about the Lab School at board meetings, finished just behind Grasso with 1, 386 votes.
School Bus Proposition
Voters also approved a separate bus proposition to purchase three large and three small replacement buses at a price not to exceed $1, 225,000. The proposition passed 2, 061 to 937. Voters additionally approved a bus purchase reserve fund 2, 081 to 908 votes. The fund is to be used to purchase school buses, related equipment and expenses and is not to exceed $15,000,000, plus interest and earnings for a probable term of 15 years.
Bethlehem Library Board and Budget Vote
Bethlehem voters also approved the Town Library’s $4.6 million budget levy, a 4.32% increase from last year.
When asked, voters were more concerned about October’s upcoming $32 million bond vote than the library budget that they just resoundingly approved. Deb Hoffmann, 71, and long-time Delmar resident said in her “liberal neighborhood” voters will not approve the bond. “People feel we don’t need the bigger meeting space after the debacle of this year,” she said, referring to December 2023 speaker Miko Peled.
Library Executive Director Geoffrey Kirkpatrick said the bond vote is an important question and “a dialogue between the community and the Library.” He said the vote will answer two questions for the community – does the project meet the needs the community asked for and is it worth the expense? “The bond vote is the only way we can truly ask the community and how the results come back will tell us a lot,” Kirkpatrick said.
In the Library trustee race, eight candidates competed for three slots. Gail Sacco, who led with 1, 360 votes, was elected as a first time trustee to a five year term. Incumbents Laura DiBetta with 906 votes and Michelle Walsh with 906 votes will return to the board, respectively for a one year and two year term. None of the five unsuccessful candidates received more than 600 votes.
With an abundance of candidates this year, Chris Dyss, 79 of Delmar said after he voted, “there are so many good candidates my biggest problem was which one to vote for.”
North Colonie Central School District
North Colonie Central School District residents gave a strong yes to the district’s proposed $154.1 million school budget, voting it up by 1, 594 votes to 431 no votes. Just over 78% of voters supported the budget.
North Colonie voters also weighed in on the fate of a $94.1 million Capital Project focusing primarily on the Shaker High School, by approving that proposal, but by a slightly closer margin of 1, 558 to 475. In a statement, North Colonie Superintendent Kathleen Skeals said, “We’re excited to see the community support for the school budget and Capital project which will bring sweeping renovations to the high school and other necessary improvements vital to 21st century learning.”
In 2016, district voters had vetoed a $196.4 million capital project proposal that included many of the now proposed renovations. That proposal was scaled back and re-voted on in 2017, but omitted the improvements for the high school.
In the district’s school board race, incumbent Matt Cannon topped out the vote with 1, 748 yes votes to win re-election to a five year term. Ayesha Geter, with 1, 133 votes, beat out co-contender Justin John who garnered 696 votes. Geter, who will serve a five year term, begins her tenure on July 8.
South Colonie Central School District
In South Colonie, voters approved a $128 million spending plan and bus purchase proposition, in another overwhelming vote of 871 in favor and 281 against. The approved budget represents a 5.39% spending increase from last year. 858 voters approved the nine bus purchase proposition with 292 against it.
In addition, voters re-elected David Kiehle to the Board of trustees. Jen Houlihan beat Erin McDowell, 728 votes to 298 for an open seat to succeed James T. Ryan. Her five year term begins on July 1, 2024.
Ravena Coeymans Selkirk School District
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District voters, by a slightly lesser margin than other local school districts, approved the proposed $54,578,339 2024-25 budget with 68% in favor, 414 yes votes to 195 no votes.
According to a district statement, the budget represents a $1,029,853 or 1.92% spending increase and would result in an estimated tax rate increase of 4.26%.
Voters also said yes to a $500,000 capital improvement project that will focus on the infrastructure within the district’s transportation department. This capital project will replace its annual bus purchase expenditure.
Three candidates vying for three seats on the district’s board of education all won election. Daniel Baker’s vote count stood at 476, with Matthew Miller at 486 and Melanie Potter at 476 votes.
