In Cohoes, property owners will vote on a 2006-2007 spending plan that includes a 7.6 percent tax increase, which could be lowered a few percentage points if city school district secures $700,000 in state aid.

District leaders say the tax increase could go down a few percentage points, but only once they figure out if they will receive about $700,000 in added state aid that's on the table.

The $5.5 million spending plan reflects a 13.4 percent increase in spending over the current year's budget, but the tax increase is mostly to do with the Green island School District's multi-million renovation/construction project currently in progress.

For residents, the increase in expenses will translate into a 3.75 percent tax rate increase from the 2005-06 rate of $309.65 to $320.54 per $1,000.

They also say the budget increases would be devoted to maintaining academic programs, increased costs in to health insurance and retirement costs and other expenditures such as collective bargaining, salary increases, debt service and utilities to support expanding facilities.

The $17.9 million budget reflects a 3.8 percent increase in spending, which below the contingency budget cap of 4 percent, according to Watervliet School District leaders.

Last year, Watervliet residents actually saw a 5 percent tax decrease, but residents in the small hamlet of Mannsville were hit with a stiff 17 percent tax increase, largely because of inequities in equalization rates.

On Tuesday voters in school districts throughout Saratoga County and state will be asked to approve or knock down the 2006-2007 school budgets adopted by districts during recent weeks. Here is an overview of individual district budgets and candidates for the boards of education.

Along with voting for the budget next week, residents will also choose from three candidates to fill two three-year positions. Candidates include newcomers Kim Dunn, Anita Carney, and incumbent board Vice President Frank Grimaldi.

The vote, which is scheduled for Tuesday from noon to 9p.m. in the high school gymnasium lobby, will also include a proposition on whether the school should lease eight 66-passenger buses for five years, three 22-passenger buses for three years and one wheelchair-capable bus for three years. An additional $159,200 would be added to the tax levy if the proposition is passed.

Incumbent board members Janet Grey, Sharon Bowles and Charles Huff will try to retain their seats. The three will be challenged by newcomers Rick Mincher and Donna Mongleuzi in the race for the board seats.

The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will serve the three year terms. Those successful candidates for the full terms will begin serving on the board, July 1.

The candidate receiving the third greatest number of votes will be sworn in immediately after the election to fill the remaining two years of a three-year term.

Huff is from Halfmoon and has been on the board the longest of any of the incumbents. He is seeking his third term. Grey of Clifton Park is running for her second term, and Bowles also of Clifton Park, is seeking her first term as an elected school board member.

Bowles was appointed in October by board members after a series of public interviews with three other candidates to fill the seat left open by the resignation of Erika Riebel.

The school board election and budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Gowana Middle School gymnasium for residents living in the Shenendehowa School District.

In addition to the school board election, the ballot will ask residents to vote on the $127.9 million 2006-07 school budget, a $1.3 million bond to purchase 17 buses, and an additional $3.8 million for the construction of Shatekon Elementary School.

Due to revaluation property assessment changes in the town and village, the school is not sure what the exact tax rate for its proposed $16,835,697 school budget will be. But officials are estimating the 2006-2007 budget's tax levy will be about $12.35 per $1,000, said Donald Flynt, the school's superintendent.

Tuesday's vote will also have two other propositions that will be voted on. They include: to expend a capital reserve fund for $100,000 for Phase III improvements for the elementary school, and to establish a capital reserve fund for $100,000 for Phase IV improvements for the elementary school.

Along with these three propositions, residents will also pick three of the four candidates for the vacant three-year-term Board of Education positions. The candidates include newcomers Michael Hanehan Jr., Susan Kardash, Timothy Scrom, and incumbent board president James Farnan.

The 2006-2007 proposed school budget includes a 3.9percent increase in expenditures. The $16,130,489 budget will be voted on Tuesday from noon until 8 p.m. in the school auditorium lobby.

Residents will also choose from three candidates for the two vacant Board of Education seats. Candidates include incumbents Robert VanBramer, Carol Cooper and newcomer Robert Connell. The candidate with the most votes will win the 3-year seat while the runner-up will fill an unexpired term, said Carl Klossner, the school's superintendent.

Along with voting for the budget and the Board of Education members, residents will also vote on whether the school should lease two buses for five years at a cost not to exceed $9,500 each year.

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