On May 15, 2007, by a margin of 1,708 to 792, residents approved a $79,540,000 budget for the 2007-2008 school year. Voters also approved the annexation of the Maplewood School by a margin of 1,760 to 710, and elected Paula D’Orazio to North Colonie’s nine-member board.

The proposed budget represents an increase of only 2.4 percent, which is the smallest increase in more than 10 years. This translates into an estimated homestead tax rate increase of approximately 5.5 percent. About 87 percent of this increase is solely due to the change in base proportions (proportion of tax levy that is paid by homeowners and commercial properties). The district has no control over this component of district tax rates.

The average homeowner in North Colonie with a house assessed at $250,000 would see his or her taxes increase approximately $4.48 more per week, after the current basic STAR exemption is applied.

$79,540,000 Total General Fund Budget

Budget Highlights

• Increased 2006-07 Budget by $1,863,000 or 2.4%
  The smallest increase in more than 10 years
   

• Approximate 4.25% increase in negotiated Staffing Costs ($1,900,000 +/-)
   

• Approximate 7% increase in Employee Benefits ($1,100,000 +/-)
  Mandated increases in TRS (12%), and health/dental insurance (8%)
   

• Approximate 31% decrease in total Equipment ($533,000 +/-)
  $1,172,000 equipment budget includes:
  $644,000 for school buses
  $238,000 for classroom computers
  $104,000 for maintenance vehicles and equipment
  $64,000 for computer network hardware
  $50,000 for Technology Education equipment upgrades
   

• Approximate 8.7% increase in Contracted Services ($570,000 +/-)
  (Increases in utilities, accounting/auditing services, special education services)
   

• Approximate 2.4% increase in Materials & Supplies ($45,000 +/-)
   

• Approximate $808,000 increase for new staff including:
  1.0 additional teaching staff at Shaker Junior High to deal with increased
  enrollment in Art, Music, Physical Education, Technology, Foreign
  Language, and Family and Consumer Science
  1.8 additional teaching staff at Shaker High School to deal with growing class
  sizes in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Technology, Art and Music
  1.9 additional special education staff for increased needs for Speech,
  Special Ed instruction and Occupational Therapist Assistant services
  1.0 additional nurse PSDP Program at elementary schools
  1.0 Director of Technology admistrative position
  3.0 Elementary Building Assistants
  1.0 Fixed Assets Clerk
  2.0 Bus Aides for Special Ed Transportation
   

• Approximate 6% decrease in Debt Service ($340,000 +/-)
   

• Approximate 86% decrease in Interfund Transfers for Capital Improvements (922,000 +/-)
  $100,000 in Interfund Transfer for Capital Improvements at the
  Bus Garage for the replacement of second hydraulic bus lift

Revenues

State Aid (Other than Building Aid) increases 10.7% or approximately $1,400,000

$2,750,000 of Fund Balances appropriated to reduce tax levy

$100,000 of Fund Balance appropriated from Reserve for Debt

Estimated Tax Levy

Estimated Homestead Tax Rate Increase of Approximately 5.5%
(Represents approximately $4.48 per week on a home assessed at $250,000)