What's happening
This bill lowers the threshold for approving school budgets and propositions that exceed the tax levy limit from sixty percent to a simple majority vote.
Why it matters
Reduces barriers for school funding increases. By lowering the required approval from a supermajority (60%) to a simple majority, school districts have an easier path to secure funding above state-imposed tax levy limits, potentially allowing for more responsive investment in education.
Shifts local control and voter influence. The change empowers a bare majority of voters to make decisions about increasing school budgets and taxes, which could lead to more frequent approval of higher spending—reflecting the current will of the majority rather than requiring broad consensus.
Impacts property taxes and school programs. Easier passage of budgets and propositions that exceed the tax cap may result in higher property taxes for residents, but could also mean greater resources for school programs, staffing, and facilities, directly affecting educational quality and local taxpayers.
Alters communication to voters. The required ballot language is updated to inform voters that only a simple majority is needed for approval, making the process more transparent and possibly affecting voter turnout and engagement in school budget decisions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Threshold for School Tax Hikes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
18 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Lower School Tax Vote Threshold
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
227
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. JAFFEE, CAHILL, DAVILA, CROUCH, GOODELL, STECK, GOTTFRIED, BLAKE, KEARNS, JEAN-PIERRE, ABINANTI, RIVERA, LIFTON, JENNE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BLANKENBUSH, MAGEE, SIMON, SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to school district tax levies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 6 of section 2023-a of the education law, as added by section 2 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
6. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in the event the trustee, trustees or board of education of a school district that is subject to the provisions of this section proposes a budget that will require a tax levy that exceeds the tax levy limit for the corresponding school year, not including any levy necessary to support the expenditures pursuant to subparagraphs (i) through (iv) of paragraph i of subdivision two of this section, then such budget shall be approved if [sixty percent] a majority of the votes cast thereon are in the affirmative.
(b) Where the trustee, trustees or board of education proposes a budget subject to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the ballot for such budget shall include the following statement in substantially the same form: "Adoption of this budget requires a tax levy increase of which exceeds the statutory tax levy increase limit of for this school fiscal year and therefore exceeds the state tax cap and must be approved by [sixty percent] a majority of the qualified voters present and voting."
§ 2. Subdivision 9 of section 2023-a of the education law, as added by section 2 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01767-01-7
A. 227 2
9. Nothing in this section shall preclude the trustee, trustees, or board of education of a school district, in their discretion, from submitting additional items of expenditures to the voters for approval as separate propositions or the voters from submitting propositions pursuant to sections two thousand eight and two thousand thirty-five of this part; provided however, except in the case of a proposition submitted for any expenditure contained within subparagraphs (i) through (iv) of paragraph i of subdivision two of this section, if any proposition, or propositions collectively that are subject to a vote on the same date, would require an expenditure of money that would require a tax levy and would result in the tax levy limit being exceeded for the corresponding school year then such proposition shall be approved if [sixty percent] a majority of the votes cast thereon are in the affirmative.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendments to section 2023-a of the education law made by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall expire and be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.