Guilderland’s draft school budget for next year, projected at $98 million, will add teachers and restore some programs that were cut in recent years.

A Voorheesville mother raised concerns that  90 percent of Voorheesville sixth-graders have averages of 85 or higher and yet, on standardized tests, only 20 to 30 percent score in the top.

The Guilderland school district anticipates being able to add new items to next year’s budget and wants to hear from residents, through its online survey, about what those should be.

Although there has already been one Guilderland Board of Education meeting in the fall where the district asked for input on the school budget, I am unsure what was the extent of public input. I actually am not sure if anyone spoke.

In spite of its tax cap and a sparse increase in state aid, the Voorheesville School District will likely not see cuts in its upcoming budget. A meeting on Jan. 30 will discuss the preliminary budget, which includes increases to staff expenses and a high-priced capital project.

Matt Tedeschi, president, Berne-Knox-Westerlo school board

The 2017 budget passes and town board members learn that a historic “chalet” in the town park will be used again.

WESTERLO —  The preliminary $2.8 million town budget does not ignore “the elephant in the room,” says town board member William Bichteman.

RENSSELAERVILLE — The proposed  $2.5 million town budget for 2017 has numbers not so different from those in the 2016 budget. The plan has moved through a series of town board workshops, has been approved as preliminary, and will receive public comment at a Nov. 9 hearing before it’s finally adopted.

The top line in the $1.6 million preliminary budget proposed by Supervisor Vasilios Lefkaditis calls for a 16-percent cut in town spending compared to the 2016  budget.