Amid state shortfall, Albany school board starts budget planning

If the school board did nothing, the Albany school district would face a $7.4 million deficit and a 6.4 percent tax hike.
That, however, is highly unlikely, say school officials who stress that they are just now getting out their budget knives and are looking at ways to keep the spending plan – and subsequent taxes – to a realistic level for the 2019-20 school year.
"We know that's not the final number," said Bill Hogan, deputy superintendent for business and finance.