Niskayuna school board adopts final budget to send to voters

NISKAYUNA-On May 17 Niskayuna voters will head to the polls to decide whether they want to approve a $99.9 million budget that would also go right to the district’s 2.87% tax cap.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday night during its meeting to approve the budget, which is a 7.3% increase from the 2021-22 approved budget.

The budget would also include the use of $2.5 million in unspent funds.

The budget would include several positions, including a director of human resources at $140,000 and director of pupil personnel services at $130,000.

During the process the board went back and forth on how much it would want to use in unspent funds or reserves to cover any gap left between spending and revenue.

During comments prior to approving the final budget to send to voters, Board President Kim Tully said this budget year showed that the district really should have a budget committee–something she will propose at a future board meeting.

“I think it will really help the budget development along the way,” she said, noting board members have thought about creating such a committee for years.

She said the committee would allow for a more in depth look at items prior to the budget process really getting under way.

“I think we’re lucky that this budget preserves all positions,” she said.

Board member Aliya Saeed said she hadn’t necessarily gotten all the details she wanted, but got enough information to make a sound decision. From there she asked questions like whether the district was sound, provided a good budget to the next superintendent, provided necessary staff and was a good budget for taxpayers. She checked yes to those questions.

“I’m not going to be at this table next year but I feel confident that we’re financially sound,” said Board member Greta Jansson.

A public hearing on the budget will be held May 10.