FOR RELEASE: June 12, 2023
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The 2023 legislative session marked a welcome transition to more traditional operational and policy issues that impact student success.
Our lawmakers’ commendable delivery of long-promised full funding of foundation aid in the 2023-24 state budget and the abatement of COVID pandemic-related emergencies opened opportunities for lawmakers to attend to other concerns that affect the everyday operations of school districts.
NYSSBA appreciates the remarkably broad spectrum of public education-related priorities acted upon by the Legislature. A long list of important matters addressed by legislators includes:
- Technical adjustments to the property tax cap that have been sought since the cap took effect in 2012. The changes will incorporate properties under PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements within a portion of the tax cap calculation.
- A direction to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to lead development of a statewide plan for highway and depot charging for zero-emission vehicles, including school buses.
- An agreement to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to relieve small city school districts of stricter debt limits that date back to a time when school budgets in small cities were not subject to voter approval. This amendment would bring greater equity to the state’s debt limits, bringing small city districts under the same allowable range as other school districts.
School board members also appreciate this year’s legislative action on issues of concern to the state’s youth, such as electronic cigarette advertising.
Each of these actions will have meaningful consequences for school districts and will support the work of educating our students. NYSSBA also looks forward to further discussion of ongoing matters of interest to school board members including the future of foundation aid, school holidays and labor-related issues.
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