Budget & Taxes

2025-2026 Budget Results

Final School Budget: $12,976,198.00
Spending Increase:   4.19%
Tax Levy Increase:  4.14 %
Pass Rate: 84%

Capital Project:
Pass Rate: 81.8%

Gifting of Real Property:
Pass Rate: 89.7%

Board of Education Member: Two Seats
Jason Hoffmann:   144 votes
Patrick Semexant: 143 votes 
Write-ins:  8

Menands Library Budget: $306,423.00
Pass Rate: 87.9%

Library Trustee: One Seat
Diana Praus: 151
Write in: 8

Total Number of Voters: 176

2026-2027 Budget Calendar

All budget workshops take place in the Menands School Library beginning at 6:30 pm. All meeting livestream links and agendas are available on Board Docs.

December 8, 2025- Present Draft 2026-2027 Budget Calendar

February 9, 2026 – Budget Workshop

February 27, 2026 – Submit the 2026-2027 Calculation for Tax Levy to the Office of The State Comptroller, Tax and Finance, and SED

March 9, 2026 – Budget Workshop: 2026-2027 Draft 1

March 30, 2026 – Budget Workshop: 2026-2027 Draft 2

April 22, 2026 – Budget Workshop: Adopt the 2026-2027 Budget and Approval of the Property Tax Report Card

April 24, 2026 – Submit Property Tax Report Card/Administrator Salary
Disclosure Due

April 29, 2026 – Budget Statement and Attachments made available (see below)

May 6, 2026 – Budget Workshop: Budget Hearing

May 7, 2026 – Mail Budget Newsletter including Budget Notice and Property Tax Report Card

May 19, 2026 – Budget Vote: noon – 8:00pm at Menands School District Office

Voter Information

Residents across New York State go to the polls on the third Tuesday of each May to vote on the annual school budget and elect members to the Board of Education. Voters must be 18 years old, United States citizens, and have resided in the district for at least 30 days prior to the vote. You do not need to be pre-registered in order to vote, but personal identification may be requested at the polls.

Absentee Ballot Information

Absentee ballots are issued, upon request, to residents of the school district who will be out of town or unable to vote in person due to illness or disability. To vote via absentee ballot, district residents must first complete and sign an absentee ballot application.

A completed application must be received by the district clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or the day before the election if the ballot is to be picked up at the District Office. The ballot itself must be returned to the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the election.

Mail-In Ballot Information

Mail-in ballots are issued, upon request, to any resident of the school district. To vote via mail-in ballot, district residents must first complete and sign a mail-in ballot application.

A completed application must be received by the district clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or the day before the election if the ballot is to be picked up at the District Office. The ballot itself must be returned to the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the election.

Trish O’Connell | District Clerk
toconnell@menands.org
518-465-4561, ext. 101

Menands School District
19 Wards Lane
Menands, NY 12204

2025-2026 Budget Statement and Attachments

2025-2026 3 Part Budget

2025-2026 Administrative Salary Discolure

2025-2026 Property Exemption Report

2025-2026 Property Tax Report Card

2025-2026 NYS Report Card

Past budget summaries

2024-2025 

Final Budget: $12,454,645.00

Spending Increase:   7.78 percent

Tax Levy Increase:  0.24  percent

2023-24

Final Budget: $10,821,622

Spending Increase: 5.31 percent

Tax Levy Increase: 2.9 percent

2022-23

Final Budget: $10,821,622

Spending Increase: 5.31 percent

Tax Levy Increase: 2.9 percent

2021-22

Final Budget 2021-22: $10,275,635

Spending Increase: 4.59 percent

Tax Levy Increase: .31 percent

2020-21

Final Budget 2020-21: $9,824,370

Spending Increase: 8.69 percent

Tax Levy Increase: 3.36 percent

2019-20

Final Budget 2019-20: $9,038,667

Spending Increase: 3.53 percent

Tax Levy Increase: 3.75 percent

2018-2019

Final Budget 2018-19: $8,730,680

Spending Increase: 2.14 percent

Tax Levy Increase: 3.25 percent

2017-2018

Final Budget 2017-18: $8,548,159

Spending Increase: 2.54 percent

Tax Levy Increase: 1.81 percent

School Taxes

School taxes are collected on behalf of the district by the Town of Colonie Tax Department. 

Town of Colonie Tax Department Website | (518) 783-2730 | Tax Dept. FAQs  | Look up and pay your tax bill online

The STAR Program

Homeowners who meet certain eligibility requirements through the New York State School Tax Relief Program – STAR – can have a portion of their home’s assessed value exempt from school property taxes. Learn more about the STAR program.

Foundation Aid

An integral portion of school aid from New York State is disbursed as Foundation Aid. This funding was established to assist school districts in providing students with the foundation for a basic education. This aid is used for general school operations and is based on student needs, enrollment, and district fiscal capacity. 

Eliminating the achievement gap

Addressing student social-emotional health

Providing adequate resources to English language learners, students with disabilities, and students experiencing homelessness