To the Editor:

On Tuesday, May 17, Guilderland Central School District residents will head to the polls to vote on a proposed $96,590,045 budget for the 2016-17 school year. The proposed budget represents an increase in spending of $2,900,445 (up 3.10 percent) over the current year’s budget.

If approved by voters, it would result in a 1.35 percent tax levy increase in the coming year — below the district’s maximum allowable tax levy limit as calculated under the state’s “tax cap” formula. Due to a projected assessment growth within the district, tax rates are estimated to increase by less than 1 percent (0.74 percent).

In addition, district residents will vote on a bus and equipment proposition and elect three members to the board of education.

After years of revenue shortfalls that resulted in layoffs and program reductions, the district has finally received some much-needed financial relief as a result of an increase in state aid and a decrease in some costs. We are pleased that our state aid for 2016-17 includes the full restoration of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, totaling $2 million. This restoration has created an opportunity to present a budget that addresses student needs, restores funding to programs and services that were cut in recent years, and reduces our capital debt.

The proposed budget, adopted by the board of education on April 12, maintains all current programs and services for students and calls for the net addition of 13.85 full-time equivalent positions. Worthy of note is a new opportunity for high school students to participate in a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Academy. Also new in 2016-17, the district will be leasing excess space to a private prekindergarten provider in three of our school buildings, Altamont and Pine Bush elementary schools and Farnsworth Middle School.

Please read our budget newsletter, available on the district website and being delivered to residents’ homes, or visit our website, www.guilderlandschools.org, for more details about what is included in our 2016-17 spending plan.

In addition to the district’s budget, voters will also decide on a $1,156,000 bus and equipment proposition. If it is approved by voters, the district would purchase seven large buses, three smaller buses, two wheelchair-accessible buses, and a tractor. Approximately 50 percent of the purchase price of the buses would be returned to the district in the form of future state aid, reducing the cost to local taxpayers by $555,000.

I encourage all district residents to review the budget resources on the district website – www.guilderlandschools.org. Please feel free to call me at 456-6200, ext. 3102, or email me at with any questions about the proposed spending plan.

Most importantly, I urge all eligible voters to head to the polls on May 17 to vote on the budget and bus proposition and for three members of the board of education. After voting, please take a moment to complete our exit survey.

Thank you to all of our community members who participated in the budget development process this year and to all who support our efforts to serve the children of our community.

Marie Wiles, superintendent

Guilderland Central School District