To the Editor:
I agree with former Altamont Mayor Jim Gaughan that it is “astonishing that school districts continue to raise taxes after record amounts of federal aid and state aid have been given to them” [“Altamont needs resources equal to Guilderland’s other elementary schools,” The Altamont Enterprise, April 1, 2022].

In a candid budget moment, Guilderland School District Superintendent Marie Wiles said the proposed nearly 5-percent spending increase and the nearly 3-percent tax increase “are the highest they’ve been in my time here.”

Local governments are swimming in money. This applies to towns, cities, counties, and school districts. The feds have sent trillions of dollars (borrowed money) to our local communities in such volume many local governments are not actually sure how to spend it.

Both the city and county of Albany created committees to figure how to spend the extra cash. Additionally, The Enterprise reports estimated state aid for the Guilderland School District is up nearly 11-percent this year [“GCSD drafts $110M budget for next year: spending up nearly 5%, taxes up nearly 3%,” March 21, 2022].

For many years, the Guilderland School Board has not shown any interest in cutting taxes. Each year, in seemingly automatic fashion, it goes close to or right up to the tax cap limit. It is a great irony that when inflation is hurting us the most (the worst in decades), the tax cap goes up. 

Don’t think for a moment cutting taxes cannot be done. The nearby Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District is cutting taxes this year [“BKW budget proposal: Spending up, taxes down for 2022-23 school year,” The Altamont Enterprise, March 30, 2022].

In each of my seven years in the county legislature, the county property tax rate has been reduced. That occurred despite COVID’s effect on sales-tax receipts, which are a key revenue source for the county.

My daughter spent 12 years in the Guilderland school district. I understand our children are our greatest treasure.

It is also true many people are struggling with their high school taxes, and some have left town because of them. Please do not accept the false choice often presented, kids versus taxpayers. We can serve both well with reasonable restraint and more prudence, especially when money is pouring in.

Mark Grimm

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Mark Grimm is an Albany County legislator, representing part of Guilderland.