School and library votes are on May 20

GUILDERLAND — Tuesday, May 20, is the statewide election day for public library and school budget votes.

Guilderland Central School District residents will vote on a $92 million budget for next year, representing a 1.22-percent increase over this year. If the budget is approved by voters, the levy would increase 1.94 percent, below the state-set levy limit by about $12,000. Tax rates are estimated to increase by the same amount for residents of the town of Guilderland.

Voters will also decide on a $995,000 bus and equipment proposition and elect three members to the school board from a field of just three — newcomer Chris McManus, and incumbents Allan Simpson and Judy Slack.

District voters will decide, too, on a $3.5 million budget proposal for the Guilderland Public Library for next year, an increase of 1.42 percent over last year’s spending plan.

The total tax levy for the plan represents a 0.18-percent increase over this year, staying under the state-set levy limit. The library estimates that Guilderland residents will pay $1.14 per $1,000 of assessed valuation — two cents more than this year.

Voters will also elect four library trustees out of a field of five: incumbents Robert Feller, Barbara Fraterrigo, and Carroll Valachovic, and newcomers Karen Carpenter Palumbo and Carolyn Williams. (See related profiles.)

The top three vote-getters will serve full five-year terms and the fourth-place candidate will fill out the term left when Robert Ganz resigned from the 11-member board.

Voting information

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all five district elementary schools. Voters must be United States citizens who are at least 18 years old and have lived in the district at least 30 days prior to the vote.

Voter registration is required. Those who are not registered may do so at any of the district elementary schools on May 8, May 12, or May 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or at the district office at 8 School Road in Guilderland Center on those same days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents may also register with the Albany County Board of Elections during its normal business hours.

Contact the district clerk at 456-6200, ext. 3125, to request an absentee ballot application. Completed absentee ballot applications must be received by May 13 if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or by May 19 if the ballot is to be given to the voter in person at the district office. All completed absentee ballots must be delivered to the district office by 5 p.m. on May 20.

More Guilderland News

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.