Board of Education
adopts 2008-09 proposed budget

The North Colonie Central School District’s Board of Education adopted an $88,439,000 proposed budget for the 2008-09 school year at its March 24 board meeting.

District residents will vote on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all elementary schools. Maplewood residents vote at Goodrich School. In addition, voters will select three members to the Board of Education.

The proposed budget would result in an estimated tax rate increase of 3.76 percent—the smallest proposed increase in a decade. This translates into an increase of $102.72 for the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 or $170.88 for the owner of a home assessed at $250,000.

“We are all truly committed to both maintaining a strong academic program and continuing to support the tradition of prudent fiscal responsibility,” said Superintendent Randy Ehrenberg.

For the first time, the proposed budget incorporates expenses and revenues associated with the Maplewood-Colonie Common School District, which will officially become a part of the North Colonie Central School District on July 1, 2008. The annexation will generate the receipt of more than $30 million in New York State Operating Incentive Aid over the next 14 years and a significant increase in state building aid for North Colonie.

The proposed budget includes the transfer of $887,000 from district reserves to help pay for the capital project, approved by voters in March 2008. The project, largely funded, by state EXCEL aid, includes infrastructure repairs and improvements throughout the entire school district.  » MORE