Meet the Candidates Night – Wednesday, May 13

Residents will have the opportunity to meet the four Board of Education candidates on Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Howard L. Goff Middle School cafeteria for Meet the Candidates Night. There are three open seats in this year’s election, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19. Each of the four candidates will discuss their qualifications and answer questions. The event will be hosted by the League of Women Voters.

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East Greenbush CSD Presents Updated Proposed School Budget for 2026-27

Mar 27, 2026 | Budget, District

The East Greenbush Central School District presented an updated version of its proposed school budget for 2026-27 during Wednesday evening’s Board of Education meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Kurtis Kotes opened the presentation with an overview of the state budget proposals from the governor and legislature. He highlighted several key state-level factors currently influencing local school budgets, including Foundation Aid, mandates for Zero-Emission Buses, capital outlays, and school meals.

Current Status of 2026-27 School Budget
The proposed budget totals $119.8 million with a projected 3.33% tax levy increase – which is within this year’s state tax cap.

Note: The current proposed budget was developed using estimates for state funding, as the final New York State budget has not yet been approved.

Dr. Kotes detailed the current status of the proposed school budget. Under the updated proposal, the district will apply $7.7 million in reserves and fund balance, alongside $1.1 million in spending reductions. Despite these measures, the district still faces a budget gap of approximately $900,000 in order to balance the budget.

A primary driver of these rising expenses – mirroring a trend across school districts and organizations statewide – is the surging cost of health insurance. Projections for next year indicate a 7.2% increase in total employee benefit costs, with health insurance premiums as the primary driver of the increase. The employee benefit increase represents 42% of the total budget increase, creating a scenario where the cost of employee benefits is now outpacing salaries.

Still, the proposed school budget will continue to support students and the district’s new strategic plan. It funds key initiatives, including:

  • Advancing the Portrait of a Graduate vision
  • Expanding future-ready opportunities for students
  • Supporting high-quality professional development for staff
  • Strengthening community relations

“Our goal remains to advance a budget that maintains a supportive, high quality education for all students in the most responsible fashion possible,” Dr. Kotes said.

Looking Ahead
District administrators will continue to carefully evaluate expenses to identify further recommendations for closing the remaining $900,000 gap.

These recommendations will be shared with the board and the community at the next Budget Workshop, scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Central Administration Conference Room.

Key Upcoming Dates:

  • Budget Workshop #3: Wednesday, April 15
  • Expected Budget Adoption: Tuesday, April 21
  • Budget Hearing and Presentation: Wednesday, May 6
  • School Budget Vote and Board Election: Tuesday, May 19

Other Propositions on the Ballot
In addition to the school budget, voters will decide on the purchase of six 66-passenger school buses from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund and select three individuals for the Board of Education.

Budget Vote and Board Election
The Budget Vote and Board Election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.

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