Cohoes City School district presents $57.06 million budget, proposes $20 million capital reserve with 'no tax impact'

Superintendent Gauthier presented the Cohoes City School Districts proposed budget for the 2026 627 school year as $57,062,442 and said it represents roughly a 4% increase over the prior year.

Gauthier said the district remains highly dependent on state aid and property tax revenue, and she described revenue drivers including foundation and expense-driven aids and some new PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) revenue. She told the board the proposed tax levy is 0% "based off the estimated assessment rule," and estimated the impact to the average homeowner at about $10 per month before the STAR exemption.

The superintendent outlined expense pressures and priorities: roughly 80% of the budget is staff and benefits, transportation costs have been increasing, and the district has seen higher numbers of students experiencing homelessness and district placements. She detailed staffing recommendations including additional elementary math/AIS support and ESL coverage, expanded instructional coaching, and requested aides and therapy support tied to a proposed functional skills classroom.

Gauthier also described a $20,000,000 capital reserve proposition slated to run over a 10-year term and said it would be funded by operating surplus or lawful transfers rather than a tax increase; she called that point "key." She said certain green-initiative funds would carry a $10,000,000 per-building cap and a $15,000,000 district cap, and noted an August 18 funding deadline for a relevant program tied to HVAC audits and a building condition survey.

The superintendent reminded the board the annual budget vote and board of education election are scheduled for May 19, noon to 9 p.m., with three elementary schools serving as polling sites and district staff assisting at each site.

A motion to adopt the meetings resolutions for the evening (items 7a 6c and 8a 6f) was made and seconded; roll-call votes were recorded as yes from Jackson, Smither, Gendron, Dross, Burwell and Geller. Later the board voted to enter executive session at 6:35 p.m. to discuss personnel and a student matter and did not plan to return to open session.

What happens if the budget is defeated, Gauthier said, is that the district would need to identify about $1,100,000 in reductions and forego proposed new items such as field trips and some enrichment services. She urged attention to capital planning and cited ongoing HVAC work and long-term borrowing as items that will draw on facilities funding.