“We’re  going to go through a time where we’re going to be seriously economically hurt, disadvantaged, and we need to continue to provide the services …,” said Stephen Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties.

Voorheesville’s proposed budget for 2020-21 is down $325,000 from this year.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s superintendent, Timothy Mundell, told The Enterprise this week that, although there is concern about reductions in state aid, he anticipates a “flat, or reduced” tax levy and a budget proposal that is lower than last year’s. 

Normally in April, school boards are adopting budgets and getting ready to ask the public to approve them; not this year. 

Altamont’s tax rates will go down next year, but after Guilderland’s revaluation last year, what property owners actually owe may go up. 

The second phase of Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s $15.8 million project has been completed, and Superintendent Timothy Mundell reports that, now halfway through, the project is on schedule and slightly under budget. 

Altamont’s proposed budget for next year is up about 3 percent over this year. 

Voorheesville schools are in a better financial position going into the 2020-21 budget season than they were around this time last year. 

With an increase of half of a percent in state Foundation Aid for next year and a limit of $1.6 million more to be raised from taxes, the Guilderland schools are hoping to be able to maintain the programs and staff they have with this year’s $102 million budget.

New York State has put into place tax exemptions to encourage development of renewable energy, which played out last week in Duanesburg, a rural Schenectady County town, that granted payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, for two solar farms.