Tax Cap Could Have Severe Impact on Sayville SD

Governor Andrew Cuomo campaigned on a platform of cutting taxes and that statement became closer to reality this week when the Assembly agreed on a on property taxes, or the rate of inflation, which ever is lowest.

Dr. Walter Schartner, Superintendent of the Sayville School District, said that a tax cap, without additional tax reform, could and others on Long Island. Here is some information from the superintendent.

• The tax cap, without complete mandate relief or full state funding, will start dismembering the high-quality education and student opportunities in Long Island schools. Not only are we not seeing mandate relief, we are currently working on new unfunded mandates with Race to the Top and Response to Intervention. Unfunded or underfunded mandates account for more than 15 percent of our tax levy.
• Albany has created a situation where districts have no choice but to eliminate items that are not mandated. Examples of choices are: class size, non-required courses (business, technology, art, music, and electives), sports, and clubs. Many of these programs give students the motivation to be in school. Long Island students will not be able to compete with students that have these opportunities. The wealthier districts and private institutions will continue to thrive and poorer districts will have nothing for their students. The socioeconomic divide will grow larger every year.
• Long Island schools enroll 17 percent of the students in the state, yet receive only 12 percent of the aid. State aid per pupil to Long Island schools is 44 percent below the average for the rest of the state ($4590 vs. $6630). We need Albany to give us our fair share and fund or eliminate mandates for any possibility of excellent programs to survive the revenue cap.
• The override of more than 60 percent yes votes creates a situation where a community member that wishes to vote no has more of a say than a community member that wishes to vote yes. We are creating a democracy that has one member’s vote worth more than another’s. The districts that attempt an override also get punished with a 0 percent cap if they fail to override twice.
• I encourage all community members to talk to their state legislators regarding the lack of funding of Long Island schools from Albany. Talk to the governor’s office regarding the promised mandate relief. We need to fight to keep the education on Long Island the model of the country.