ALBANY COUNTY – School district taxpayers overwhelmingly passed school and library budgets after hitting the polls on May 19. Voters also elected school board trustees and will fill a vacant Bethlehem library board seat with write-in candidate Katie McNamara.

This year’s Library trustee race drew a wild-card write-in vote when no petitions were filed to run as an on-ballot candidate for the first time since 2013. Kirkpatrick said “That’s the process, it has happened before and it will happen again.

McNamara beat out runner-up Audrey Koester by five votes to win a five-year trustee spot with 224 votes. Kirkpatrick reported that 751 write-in votes were received.

Anne Moore, who previously made two unsuccessful runs at a board seat and said she was not campaigning for a write-in vote, earned 71 votes.

McNamara has accepted the position, as necessitated when a win comes through a write-in vote and said she was motivated to run for trustee because she grew up in Delmar and has been a library patron since childhood

She said libraries are important as a unique community institution that provides information and community. She plans to bring her passion for libraries to her board position and aims to ensure transparency and institutional trust. “The most important thing is to have the community feel heard,” McNamara said.

McNamara said her professional background in government and the not-for-profit world will provide her with skills she will rely on as a trustee, such as negotiation, navigating difficult conversations, and understanding budgets and financial issues.

“Katie is right on it,” Kirkpatrick said. “She is interested in the community and in the library’s success.”

Bethlehem Library Budget Vote

Bethlehem voters also approved the Town library’s 2026-27 $5,501,811 budget, with a levy of $4,899,451. The levy represents a 3.98% increase over last year, but remains under the state-mandated cap. 1,935 people or 75% voted in favor and 613 against.

Library Executive Director Geoffrey Kirkpatrick said, “We are so excited and thank the community for continuing to trust and support the Library.”

Bethlehem Central School District budget passes

Once again, Bethlehem Central School District residents resoundingly passed the proposed school budget. This year’s budget totals $119.8 million and relies on $1.12 million from the district’s fund balance to close a gap resulting from rising costs.

The school budget passed with 1,988 votes for and only 566 opposed or 77.84% in favor to 22.16 % against. Voters will now see a tax levy of about 2.61%, which is below the district’s maximum allowable tax levy increase under the State’s tax cap.

The approved 2026-27 school year budget represents a 2.69% spending increase over this year’s budget, driven mostly by health care costs and inflation. According to the district’s website, employee salaries and benefits consume about 78% of the district’s budget, with health care costs increasing 26% over the last two years and projected to rise again next year by 15.8%. About 90% of this year’s $3.13 million increase is attributable to that jump.

The district says it has managed increased costs by reducing staffing through attrition and unfilled positions, eliminating 15 roles. In a statement on the district’s website, Superintendent Jody Monroe noted that the reductions align with declining student enrollment and will not affect students.

Four candidates, including two board incumbents, sought election for three open school board seats. Dellenbaugh and member Meredith Moriarty, whose terms are expiring in June, sought another term. Incumbent Ewan McNay, whose term is also expiring in June, did not seek re-election, leaving a third open seat.

Voters returned incumbents Dellenbaugh and Moriarty to their seats in a virtual dead heat, with 1,647 votes for Dellenbaugh and 1,646 votes for Moriarty. Sarah Bailey will join Dellenbaugh and Moriarty on the board for her first term, winning 1,427 votes. Becky VonWedel trailed behind them with 988 votes. Dellenbaugh, Moriarty, and Bailey will begin a three-year term on July 1, 2026.

School Bus Propositions

In a margin just short of the budget vote, 71.9 % of voters – 1,832 yes and 716 no – approved a proposition to purchase nine replacement large 70-passenger school buses. The cost of the diesel buses is not to exceed $ 1,633,239. About 65% of the funding comes from state aid, with the district responsible for handling a maximum cost of about $579,800.

Monroe had previously explained that the district will not add to its electric bus fleet due to ongoing performance and charging management issues. She reported that the buses have been out of service an average of 66 days each during the school year. While the district remains committed to clean fuel vehicles, it will defer purchasing additional ones until efficiency and service improve.

The school board unanimously certified the school budget and board election results at their May 20 board meeting.

Guilderland voters say yes to school budget and props

Unofficial vote tallies from the Guilderland Central School District indicate voters approved a $133,900,025 proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year by a vote of 1,355 to 617 or 68.71%. The successful budget brings a 4.98% increase in spending over the current year’s budget and will result in a 3.42% tax levy increase, still within the State’s tax cap.

“We are grateful for the continued support of the Guilderland community and for its continued support of our students and staff,” Superintendent Daniel Mayberry said. “Approval of this budget helps the district continue delivering valued programs and services for the year ahead. While financial challenges remain, we are committed to thoughtful planning, transparency, and working together as we look to the future.”

Guilderland voters also, by a vote of 1 365 to 600, approved the purchase of five 65-passenger school buses, three 35-passenger buses, two 29-passenger wheelchair equipped buses, a Chevy Tahoe, a tractor, and a mower. In addition, voters moved –with 1, 422 in favor and 342 against – a 10-year capital reserve fund of up to $20 million to pay for building repairs and improvement projects.

Three candidates were also elected to serve three-year terms on the district’s school board starting on July 1, 2026. Winning candidates are Nancy Cavillones (1,428 votes), Rebecca Butterfield (1,478 votes) and Peter Stapleton (1, 443 votes).

North Colonie School District results

North Colonie residents also approved their school district’s proposed $164.6 million 2026-27 budget by a significant margin of 1,103 to 355 or about 3:1.

The $164.6 million budget results in a 3.90 percent tax levy increase, which falls within the statutory tax cap.

“We thank our North Colonie community for their support with our 2026-27 budget,” said North Colonie Superintendent Kathleen Skeals. “I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to create a fiscally responsible budget, while balancing the needs of our students. Through their efforts, this budget allows us to maintain all of our current programs, while adding seven programs at no cost to the district.”

Four candidates sought election for two open five-year terms. Dr. Nicholas P. Comproski was re-elected to his seat, trouncing his opponent Jessica Morelli-Edmonds 59.70% to 40.30%. Janet Appe was elected to the vacant seat of Mary Nardolillo, winning 57.99% of the vote against Sean Martin, who garnered 42.01% of the vote.

Ravena Coeymans Selkirk Central School District returns

Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District residents approved the proposed 2026-27 school year budget of $58,224,892 budget with 407 or 70% saying yes and 168 saying no.

Under the approved budget, spending will increase $1,265,444, or 2.17%, and results in an estimated tax rate increase of 1.14%, which holds to the tax cap.

Voters also approved three ballot propositions, including an estimated $16.4 million Capital Improvement Project focused on core infrastructure improvements, classroom cooling enhancements and bus purchases. Proposition 1 passed 388 to 182, Proposition 2 passed 400 to 167, and the Bus Purchase Proposition passed 420 to 156.

With three open seats on the district’s school board, all three candidates, Michael Coyne (471 votes), Jackie Kalney (477 votes) and David Kramer (462 votes) captured all three board seats.

South Colonie budget vote

In South Colonie, school district voters approved a $147.6 million Budget for the district’s next school year. Voters also approved propositions to purchase 10 vehicles, use capital reserve funding for classroom cooling, and establish a new capital reserve fund.

Voorheesville Central School District

Voorheesville voters approved a $36.6 million budget for the 2026-27 school year. Voters will see a 4.18% tax levy increase. Two candidates – Argi O’Leary and Elizabeth Guastella – were elected to serve on the district’s school board, filling two open seats.