December 15, 2017

Yesterday, the NYSSBA Governmental Relations team hosted a webinar discussing the recent election results and previewing the 2018 session and budget and legislative priorities.  

If you were unable to participate, you can view the webinar and materials below.

• Webinar: 2018 Session Preview
• 2018 Legislative Priorities
• 2018-19 Budget Recommendations

December 12, 2017

On Monday, the Board of Regents released their 2018-19 School Aid proposal. The Regents recommended a school aid increase of more than $1.6 billion, or 6.3%, over current year funding levels. Their proposal includes:

• $1.25 billion in additional Foundation Aid
• $85 million of Foundation Aid increase would be restricted or "set-aside" within this amount, reserved for services for English language learner (ELL) students and compliance with part 154 regulations
• Continuation of the Foundation Aid phase-in
• A minimum level of additional Foundation Aid for all districts
• $314 million increase for expense-based reimbursement aids (transportation, building, BOCES, etc.)
• This represents full funding for these aid categories
• $25 million for career and technical education (CTE)
• This would increase the aidable salary cap on BOCES salaries over five years to $60,000
• This would also transition non-component districts to a reimbursement for the delivery of CTE services
• $20 million in additional aid for universal prekindergarten (UPK)

December 4, 2017

Working through the night on Friday, the U.S. Senate voted 51 to 49 to pass its own version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) early Saturday morning. There was an amendment offered by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to authorize an expansion of 529 education savings accounts for use for nonpublic school tuition, similar to the language included in the House-passed bill.  An additional amendment was offered by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in property tax payments (similar to language found in the House-passed bill).

November 27, 2017

Congress has returned to Washington after the Thanksgiving holiday and the Senate is expected to start voting on their version of the tax bill as early as Wednesday. The House passed their version before the holiday.  The Senate version currently includes a full repeal of the SALT deduction. The version passed by the House would eliminate the deduction of state and local income and sales taxes, and would cap the property tax deduction at $10,000. NYSSBA has been active in voicing our opposition to any changes to the SALT deduction.

The proposed tax plans are far broader than just the SALT proposal. Also on the table are proposals to allow for up to $10,000 to be withdrawn annually from 529 education savings plans for use towards elementary and secondary tuition and other expenses.

November 3, 2017

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives released their long anticipated tax reform bill. Coined the "Tax Cut and Jobs Plan," HR 1 includes a modified version of the plan to eliminate the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. Under this proposal, the deduction for state and local sales and income taxes would be eliminated, while the deductibility of property taxes would be continued, but capped at $10,000 per year. This compromise would still negatively impact many New Yorkers. Urge your congressional representative to oppose any change or reduction in the SALT deduction. Take Action Now

October 25, 2017

Congress is preparing to act on a budget resolution, an action that will pave the way for further action on a tax reform plan. Advertised as a tax cut for the middle class, the outline of the proposal (based on the information available at this time) would:

• Reduce  the number of federal income tax brackets, including an increase for the lowest income earners and a decrease for highest income earners;
• Reduce the corporate rate for most corporations;
• Double the standard deduction; and
• Eliminate a number of key federal deductions including the deduction of state and local taxes (SALT), including property taxes levied by school districts.

October 16, 2017

Delegates at the 2017 Annual Business Meeting engaged in significant debate on a number of issues. This year, the delegates were presented with one proposed bylaw amendment and thirty-one resolutions. By the end of the meeting, delegates had elected the 2017 NYSSBA officers, adopted one amendment to the bylaws, extended two existing positions and adopted twenty-four new positions.

September 20, 2017

As the U.S. Senate considers yet another version of healthcare reform legislation to change the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare," NYSSBA, in partnership with the National School Boards Association (NSBA), urges local school board members to contact their U.S. Senators and congressional representatives and urge them to oppose legislation or provisions that place arbitrary caps on how much Medicaid funding a child receives. Take Action Now

Medicaid funding is directly related to a school's ability to assist students by providing access to quality healthcare.

Contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to protect this funding.

Visit the NYSSBA Online Action Center to access letters to legislators on this and other NYSSBA priority bills.  

• NYSSBA Action Center

September 7, 2017

NYSSBA Annual Business Meeting
Saturday, October 14 - 8:00 a.m.
1932 Jack Shea Arena

Below you will find a link to the 2017 Voting Delegates' Guide for the Annual Business Meeting.  This guide contains the report of the Resolutions Committee as well as endorsements received by the September 5 deadline.

• 2017 Voting Delegates' Guide

August 17, 2017

NYSSBA's state aid databases are now available on our website.  Click the link below to access information regarding your district's funding levels, foundation aid owed and historical trends of district wealth, student need and enrollment. If you have any questions regarding the information in the database, do not hesitate to contact Governmental Relations.

• 2017-18 State Aid Summary by District
• State Aid Factors by District, 10 Year Comparison