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Voters to decide on $31.7 million budget for 2025-26 school year

Proposed spending plan preserves current programming; tax levy under ‘cap’

    On Tuesday, May 20, residents of the Stillwater Central School District will head to the polls to vote on a proposed $31,707,356 budget for the 2025-26 school year. The spending plan maintains all educational programs for students, preserves current services, and includes the purchase of four new diesel school buses. Additionally, the proposed budget allocates funding for an agricultural science teacher, salary increases for faculty and staff, as well as rising costs for health insurance and other employee benefits. Voting will take place from 12 to 9 p.m. in the Stillwater Middle-High School auditorium.

    Under the proposal, spending would increase by 3.00% or $924,578 over the current-year budget. Salary raises for faculty and staff, rising costs for health insurance and other employee benefits, and higher prices for utilities, diesel, gasoline and fuel oil contribute to the increase. During the budget development process, these factors were considered while strategically including high-priority items such as the elementary STEAM program, BOCES continuing education (CTE) and an agricultural science teacher position.

    “Navigating an uncertain economic landscape, the proposed 2025-26 budget ensures fiscal responsibility while maximizing opportunities for student success,” Superintendent Joseph Mariano, Jr. said. “Moreover, this spending plan meets the district’s key objectives within its financial limitations, prioritizing safe learning environments, high-quality educational experiences for our students and innovative professional development opportunities for staff.”

    District officials surmise that school tax rates, which are the amount of taxes residents pay per $1,000 of assessed property value, will increase by approximately 2.31%. Actual school tax rates are set in August when municipalities finalize their assessment rolls.

    If voters approve the proposed budget, the projected tax levy —the total amount of money a school district raises through property taxes—would rise by 4.87%. This increase is below Stillwater’s maximum allowable tax levy increase as determined by the state’s tax levy “cap” formula (4.88%).

    In addition to the May 20 budget vote, district residents will elect three Board of Education members for three-year terms from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028. The nominees are Robert McCoy, Tara Gutman, John Hoogeveen and Aimee Salecker. Voters will also decide on a proposed $413,782 budget for the Stillwater Public Library and elect three trustees to serve three-year terms running the same period.

    2025-26 Budget Documents

      Information on the 2024-25 school year budget

      On May 21, 2024, Stillwater residents approved a proposed $30,782,778 budget for the 2024-25 school year by a vote of 183 to 92. They also elected three members to the Board of Education, approved the Stillwater Public Library budget and elected library trustees. Read the full article and view 2024-25 budget details.

      2024-25 Budget Documents

      Voting on Stillwater’s school budget

      On the third Tuesday of each May, residents from across New York State go to the polls to vote on the annual school district budget and to elect members of the Board of Education. Learn more about voting on Stillwater’s budget.

      Absentee Ballot Information

      Any qualified voter of the Stillwater Central School District may request an application for an absentee ballot by either:

      1. Printing and returning the application to the District Clerk.
      2. Email Renee Price at rprice@scsd.org.
        **Applications must be received by the District Clerk seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered in person. All absentee ballots must be returned to the District Clerk by 5 p.m. the day of the vote (May 20, 2025).

      Early Mail Ballot Information:

      Any qualified voter of the Stillwater Central School District may request an application for an Early Mail Ballot by either:

      1. Printing and returning the application to the District Clerk.
      2. Email Renee Price at rprice@scsd.org.

      Voter Registration Date:

      Voter registration date will be held on May 6, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the District Clerk’s Office at 1068 Hudson Avenue for any resident of the school district that meets the definition of a qualified voter but not yet registered to vote. After voter registration date, district residents may register at their county Board of Elections office.

      Qualifications to Register to Vote:

      • Must be a citizen of the United States;
      • Must be 18 years old by the date of the election;
      • Must be a resident of the Stillwater Central School District for at least 30 days preceding the election.

      School Budget 101

      In New York state, local school boards must annually develop a balanced school budget proposal and put it up for a public vote on the third Tuesday in May. Learn more about school budget development.

      Everything You Need to Know About School Budgets in 60 Seconds

      Required Information

      Audit Reports

      If you cannot access any of these documents or if there is a document you are looking for that is not listed, please contact the Business Office at (518) 373-6100, ext. 30023.