by Dr. Gladys I. Cruz
District Superintendent, Questar III BOCES
Every spring, school districts across New York State embark on a vital financial and civic exercise – crafting a budget subject to voter approval that tries to balance the needs of students with the economic realities of taxpayers.
To meet the legal requirements for this year’s statewide budget vote and school board election on May 19, boards of education were required to adopt proposed budgets and propositions by late April. This ensured that school districts could submit property tax report cards to the state by the April 27th deadline, officials could prepare and distribute military and absentee ballots, and residents had time to review the details before voting.
This year’s process also carries the challenge of local school boards having to lock in numbers and adopt proposed budgets prior to the finalization of the state budget.
When the state’s fiscal plan is still under development, districts must rely on initial projections provided earlier in the year. These figures, released as part of the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal in January, serve as the baseline for local financial planning.
For some districts, there may be a considerable difference in the amount of school aid proposed by the Governor and the one-house budget proposals from the State Assembly and State Senate. However, to ensure stability, many districts adopted a conservative approach, making careful assumptions about their revenues for next school year.
According to the New York State Educational Conference Board – a coalition of seven statewide organizations representing parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, building administrators, business officials, superintendents, and board members – school districts have not faced a budget that was this late and uncertain since 2010, a few years before the implementation of state’s property tax cap.
The delay in the final state budget is impacted by the complexity of the non-school issues being discussed – auto insurance, immigration and delaying climate mandates. However, state leaders must also decide on significant questions regarding Foundation Aid, the state’s primary mechanism for funding public schools. This includes the “Hold Harmless’ provision, which has historically ensured that districts do not see a year-over-year decrease in aid. As enrollment patterns shift across the state, policymakers need to decide on how to modernize these formulas to ensure resources are distributed fairly.
Tax levy caps, which limit the amount that school districts can raise through local property taxes, constrain their ability to generate local revenue. Some school districts are now feeling the compounding effect of cautiousness, when they did not maximize their tax levy in previous years. This has led to revenue gaps while the cost of everything, from fuel and food to health insurance, is increasing for school districts and residents alike.
Beyond the columns of numbers and percentages, a school budget proposal, at its heart, should be a blueprint for student opportunity. It is the engine that powers everything from the bus ride to and from school to the afterschool opportunities that follow the regular school day. This year’s proposed funding is also critical as districts work to expand pre-K access, provide mental health support, and begin to implement changes called for by NY Inspires.
Ultimately, it’s up to you, the voters, to decide. Unlike state or municipal budgets, which are decided by elected representatives, school district budgets are one of the few places where New Yorkers can vote directly on how their money is spent. Between now and May 19, I encourage you to visit your school district’s website, review any budget materials mailed to your home, and learn more about the candidates running for the board of education. Don’t forget to exercise your right to vote for your school district budget and board of education candidates who will make policy and budget decisions for your district.