Marie Wiles proposed a spending plan for next year for Guilderland schools that stays under the near-zero levy limit set by the state and does not cut any programs or staff.

The governor's  proposed aid for next year is less than the $23.6 million Guilderland received in the 2008-09 school years.

The school board last week approved using a total of $248,500 for back taxes owed to Stuyvesant Plaza for its Executive Park property.

The Guilderland school district has not before tried adopting a budget that would raise the tax levy over the state-set limit.

"We are fortunate to have them," said the superintendent of the team members she works with.

Excess space can be a matter of definition, the school board learned on Tuesday night.

Security was a priority for the school board, and all school lobbies now have a double-door entrance, more cameras, and computerized swipe-card systems instead of keys.

"We’re reaching into the metaphorical couch cushions, looking for change,” said the school superintendent of proposed cuts, after years of cutting, in next year's $93 million budget.

Discussion on stagnant resources and too much space did not deter the school board from deciding to bid in January the work for upgrading all seven of the district's school buildings.

GUILDERLAND — School-district taxpayers will be paying less than projected when they went to the polls last May to pass a $92 million budget for this year. Assessments were higher than expected in Guilderland, and Bethlehem recently went through town-wide property revaluation.