What's happening
This bill requires that school budgets or propositions exceeding the tax levy limit be approved by 60% of board members and 50% of voters.
Why it matters
Increases the threshold for school boards to approve budgets above the tax levy limit. , requiring a 60% supermajority of board members (not just a simple majority), potentially making it harder for districts to propose tax increases.
Mandates that, beyond board approval, at least 50% of voters must also approve such budgets. at public votes, adding a direct democratic check on school tax increases and possibly giving communities more control over tax decisions.
Aims to ensure greater consensus for tax increases. , which could limit sudden or controversial hikes in school property taxes, but may also make it more difficult for schools to secure funding for new programs or rising costs.
May impact how school districts approach budget planning. , possibly leading to more conservative fiscal proposals or more robust efforts to communicate budget needs to both board members and the public.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Tougher Approval For School Budgets
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3402
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to voting to approve school budgets that exceed the tax levy limits for the corresponding school year
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 6 and 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, are 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 of the votes cast thereon by the trustee, trustees or board of education of a school district 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 of the trustee, trustees or board of education members and fifty percent of the qualified voters present and voting."
9. Nothing in this section shall preclude the trustee, trustees, or board of education of a school district, in their discretion, from
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03956-01-7
A. 3402 2
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 of the votes cast thereon of the trustee, trustees or board of education members are in the affirmative.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivisions 6 and 9 of section 2023-a of the education law made by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall 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.