The proposed tax-levy increase for 2026-27 maintains the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while providing programs and services to support every student.

It is the ninth time in the last 11 years that the proposed increase has been less than 1.4% – the district’s average annual tax-levy increase over the past decade has been eight-tenths of a percent.

The district would invest $14.1 million from reserve funds to support the budget for 2026-27, and the proposal also is supported by an $18.6 million increase in state aid, which would continue to reduce Albany taxpayers’ share of the school budget.

Property taxes would account for 34% of the total budget in 2026-27, down from 36% in the current school year and 49% in 2016-17. Meanwhile, state aid would account for 57% of the budget for next year, up from 54% this year and 42% in 2016-17.

In addition to investing in expanded elementary transportation if voters also approve Proposition 2, the budget proposal also would support the following additions for 2026-27:

• 1 elementary teacher to complete the expansion of the Dual Language Program. This would add a second section of grade 5, giving the program two classrooms at every grade level from prekindergarten through grade 5.
• 1 special education teacher
• 12 teaching assistants

The proposal also would support an anticipated increase of nearly $6 million in charter school payments, which includes a 5% increase in the district’s state-mandated charter tuition payments. The district’s charter school expenses are estimated at approximately $49 million for the 2026-27 school year. 

Looking for a detailed breakdown of the proposal? You can download the complete 2026-27 budget statement.

This proposal would allow the district to expand transportation services for elementary students (kindergarten-grade 5). This would include students in private, parochial and charter schools in Albany in addition to the district’s 12 elementary schools. Voters would need to approve both Proposition 2 and the overall budget proposal for the expanded transportation plan to move forward for the 2026-27 school year.

Proposition 2 would lower the elementary eligibility limit to one mile, down from the current limit of 1.5 miles. This would provide transportation for approximately 450-500 more of the city’s youngest learners. Eligibility guidelines for middle and high school students would remain at 1.5 miles.

The district currently transports about 3,000 elementary students city-wide, which includes all students who have an Individualized Education Plan requiring specialized transportation.

The K-5 transportation expansion would require 11 additional buses at a cost of approximately $1.51 million. 

The district is proposing this transportation expansion due to new criteria added to the state’s Child Safety Zone law and regulations – specifically, criteria related to crime statistics and vacant properties. Child Safety Zones allow school districts to be reimbursed for transportation services below the state's 1.5-mile eligibility limit. 

Earlier this school year, the district commissioned an independent study to determine the potential for new Child Safety Zones under the new criteria. The report determined that the city meets the state’s guidelines to qualify as a Child Safety Zone.

That means that the district would get back 80% of the cost of the additional transportation services -- approximately $1.2 million -- next year. That would make the total annual cost to the district about $302,000 moving forward. 

You can check out our presentation from the March 26 board meeting to learn more about Proposition 2. You also can watch the Transportation Department's presentation at the March 12 board meeting for additional background.

This proposal would deliver a $98 million facilities project that would include work at every school with no additional impact on taxes. 

The district’s share of the project – up to $9.3 million – would be covered through a Capital Reserve Fund. The rest of the project would be paid for through state aid and grants, including an $11.3 million NYSERDA grant to assist with HVAC projects at three schools. 

About two-thirds of the work – $71 million – would be covered by state building aid.

“This proposal would deliver nearly $100 million worth of work on some of our city’s most important public infrastructure, and it would not raise taxes on our citizens while also uplifting our students,” said Board of Education member Hassan Elminyawi, chair of the board’s Facilities Committee. 

The largest portion of the work – $40.8 million, or a little more than 40% of the total investment – would provide equity in large instructional spaces. This includes auditoriums, cafeterias and cafetoriums, libraries and media centers, gyms and playgrounds.

Other broad areas of work would include safety and security projects such as secure vestibules, card access for exterior doors and perimeter door monitoring. Other projects would include updating fire alarm and PA systems, and roofing.

All 17 schools would have work completed through this project. 

Following a planning and design process, and approval from the State Education Department, work would be anticipated to start in 2028.

Again, the entire project would have no additional impact on taxes.

Additional Prop 3 resources

▶ View FAQs in Google Docs 

▶ Download project summary chart

▶ March 26 board presentation materials

All polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Note sure of your polling place?
Use the NTS Voter Information Portal to find out!

If you are not currently registered to vote, you may do so in two ways to be eligible for the May 19 school budget vote and Board of Education election.

• You can register through the Albany County Board of Elections. You must be registered with the county no later than 10 days prior to the May 19 vote to be eligible.
• You also can register by visiting the City School District of Albany's administrative offices at Academy Park on Monday, May 4 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Please note that registering through the school district on May 4 will allow you to vote only in the May 19 budget vote and board election. Registration for all other voting opportunities in Albany County must be completed through the county.

Not sure if you're already registered to vote? Find out here.

Early voting & absentee ballots

All Albany voters have the option of early voting by mail. 

Also, the City School District of Albany  automatically sends absentee ballots to people the Albany County Board of Elections designates as having a permanent disability or are in the military. 

Applications for vote-by-mail and absentee ballots are available above. You also can call (518) 475-6015 and ask to have a vote-by-mail or absentee application mailed to you. 

Deadlines

If you want a vote-by-mail ballot sent to your home, the district clerk must receive your completed application at least seven days before the vote – by Tuesday, May 12 at 4 p.m. 

If you want to pick up your vote-by-mail ballot in-person at the district headquarters in Academy Park, you must have your completed application to the clerk by 4 p.m. the day before the budget vote – Monday, May 18.

All absentee and vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on the day of the vote – Tuesday, May 19.

You can call the board clerk with any questions at (518) 475-6015.