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The proposal is supported by a $12.1 million increase in Foundation Aid – the main state aid source for school districts. 

That estimate is based on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget in January. The state budget and final school aid projections for the 2025-26 school year were not done when the Board of Education approved the district’s budget proposal April 22. 

The proposal also invests $12.6 million from the district’s reserves and fund balance in the ongoing efforts to maintain extensive programming and extracurricular opportunities for all students.

“Our priority, as it is each year, is to maintain our commitment to the programs and services that all of our students need to reach their fullest potential, while also being responsible to the economic needs of our community and our residents,” said Board of Education President Sridar Chittur, Ph.D.

“We recognize that these are challenging and uncertain times, and we believe that this budget proposal would allow our school district to provide the supports and services to meet those critically important goals.” 

The May 20 ballot also will include two additional school-related propositions, neither of which would have any additional impact on taxes. 

There are two board seats up for election this year as well. Dr. Chittur is seeking re-election, and board member Vickie Smith is not.

The district also anticipates approximately $43 million in payments to charter schools in 2025-26.

Strategic staffing alignment

Supported by approximately $45 million in temporary federal COVID-19 relief funding from 2021-24, and meeting the needs of growing student enrollment over the past two years, the district invested in additional positions to support students and rebuild from the academic and social-emotional challenges of the pandemic.

The district experienced unprecedented growth in enrollment in English as a New Language programs from July 2023 through this spring, with nearly 1,500 new English-language learners enrolling in that time. 

Overall K-12 student enrollment increased by nearly 800 students during that period, from the lowest point in well over a decade in 2022-23 to more than 8,600 students last fall. 

However, recent changes in federal immigration policies have slowed the enrollment of new ELLs. As a result, the district is anticipating an overall decrease of about 300 students.

Additionally, with the temporary federal COVID-19 relief funding no longer available, school districts must rely solely on their traditional funding sources, primarily a combination of state aid and local property taxes. 

To balance those factors, the budget proposal includes the reduction of about 36 positions through retirements and eliminating positions that have been difficult to fill and vacant for two years or more.

No employee will lose their job as a result of the strategic staff reduction planned for next school year. 

Staff-to-student ratios also will either remain the same or improve in 2025-26 compared to the current school year. 

“We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for recognizing the unique needs of our school district and community,” Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter said. 

“The anticipated and much-needed increase in our state aid for next year has allowed us to sustain our programs and services for students, as well as our commitment to minimizing the tax impact on our community.”

Early voting by mail

Albany voters once again have the option to vote early by mail this year. 

Early voting by mail works much the same as traditional absentee voting and is available to everyone. 

The district also will continue to automatically send absentee ballots to people the Albany County Board of Elections designates as having a permanent disability or are in the military.

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Early voting & absentee ballots

All Albany voters have the option of early voting by mail. 

Also, the City School District of Albany  automatically sends absentee ballots to people the Albany County Board of Elections designates as having a permanent disability or are in the military. 

Applications for vote-by-mail and absentee ballots are available above. You also can call (518) 475-6015 and ask to have a vote-by-mail or absentee application mailed to you. 

Deadlines

If you want a vote-by-mail ballot sent to your home, the district clerk must receive your completed application at least seven days before the vote – by Tuesday, May 13 at 4 p.m. 

If you want to pick up your vote-by-mail ballot in-person at the district headquarters in Academy Park, you must have your completed application to the clerk by 4 p.m. the day before the budget vote – Monday, May 19.

All absentee and vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on the day of the vote – Tuesday, May 20.

You can call the board clerk with any questions at (518) 475-6015.

If you would like to schedule a presentation for your organization prior to the vote, contact our Communications Department at (518) 475-6065.

Superintendent Hochreiter will host a series of virtual budget Q&A sessions to provide additional information for community members.