In some ways, this year’s
budget was a one-two punch
against public education. In
addition to severely underfunding
schools, the governor and
lawmakers chose to make permanent
the ill-conceived tax cap.
Now, in perpetuity, the cap
will be tied to the previous year’s
rate of inflation, or 2 percent,
whichever is LOWER. The
financial pressure on schools will
increase, since the law limits the ability
of districts to raise revenue locally
to offset losses in state aid. Who pays
the price? The kids.
“This is an arbitrary and inadequate
way to address school funding,”
said NYSUT President Andy
Pallotta. “It’s unfair to taxpayers, it’s
undemocratic and it hurts students,
especially in higher-need, lowerincome
districts.”
This makes it more important than
ever to support local school budget
votes and board elections statewide
on Tuesday, May 21.
Districts that seek to exceed
the cap to make up for inadequate
school aid must gain a supermajority
of 60 percent yes votes to pass the
budget. It’s a risky proposition.
It’s important to realize any budget
that does not win voter approval
translates into a 0 percent cap. That
means, if the
budget in a district
goes down
once, the school
board can
choose to have
a revote, but
may go directly
to contingency
and there would
be no additional
resources for
the education of
children.
That’s a scenario
that’s particularly
troubling when you consider
that, in New York state, there have
been several years of cuts in education
aid. Many mandatory annual
costs increase faster than inflation,
so a flat budget becomes a slashed
spending plan. As a result, students,
schools and communities continue
to cope with thousands of layoffs and
cuts to programs.
Pallotta says student success is at
risk like never before.
“Education is not a frivolous
expense,” he said. “It’s an investment
in the future — not only in the future
of our students, but the economic
well-being of our state. When you go
to the polls on May 21, know what’s
at stake.
“Voting ‘yes’ on your budget this
year is an important step toward helping
schools recover from the troubling
fiscal constraints under which
they’ve been operating the past few
years, and a critical investment in our
children’s education and future,” he
said.
NYSUT provides tools and guidance
for local union activists and
volunteers to help pass school budgets
and elect pro-public education
board members. If you would like to
help Get Out the Vote for May 21 —
either for your work district or your
home district — contact your union
rep or your NYSUT Regional Political
Organizer through www.nysut.org/RPO.