What's happening
This bill lowers the approval threshold for school budgets exceeding the tax levy limit from 60% to a simple majority of voters.
Why it matters
Shifting to a simple majority lowers the barrier for passing school budgets that exceed the state-imposed tax levy cap. , making it easier for school districts to secure additional funding if needed, even in communities divided over tax increases.
This change could lead to more frequent approval of higher school taxes, potentially resulting in enhanced educational services or programs. , but it may also mean higher property taxes for residents, especially in districts that regularly seek to exceed the limit.
The amendment alters the messaging on school budget ballots. , making it clear to voters that only a majority—not a supermajority—is needed for passage, which may influence both voter turnout and perceptions of local fiscal oversight.
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Who cares
School boards and district trustees
They would need a 60 percent vote to approve a proposed budget requiring a tax levy above the statutory limit before submitting it to voters.
Qualified school district voters
They could approve an above-limit budget by a simple majority rather than the current 60 percent threshold.
School district election administrators
They would need to update the required ballot statement to tell voters that an above-limit budget requires majority approval.
Headline styles
Change School Budget Approval
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
368
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to school boards
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of 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, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, [in the event] where 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, such proposed budget shall be approved by sixty percent of the votes of the trustee, trustees or board of education, then such budget shall be approved if [sixty percent] a majority of the votes cast [thereon] by qualified voters 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. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that the amendments to paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 6 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03516-01-9
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.