COLONIE – By a 78 percent margin, voters approved the $99.5 million South Colonie Central School District budget on Tuesday, May 16.
The budget increases spending by $797,500 and taxes by 1.5 percent. It will cost the owner of a home worth $200,000 about an additional $54.96 a year. The owner of a home valued at $175,000 will pay an additional $48,12 a year and for a home worth $225,000 the owner will pay $61.80.
The brunt of the additional spending, $888,000 is for staff throughout the district with an additional $720,550 for instruction. Of that, there is an increase of $440,000 for elementary school teachers while spending on teachers in grades seven through 12 will decrease by $103,000.
The budget also includes money for 20 additional security camera, parking lot and road repairs, the replacement of a roof and a backup generator at district offices.
By 79 percent, 1,124 to 293, voters also approved the purchase of 10 school buses at a cost not to exceed $1 million. When state aid is included, the net cost to the district will be about $121,000, which will be borrowed over five years.
Two incumbents were returned to the Board of Education for five year terms Rose Gigliello and Leonard Motto.
