Understanding New York's property tax levy cap

(Oct. 20, 2011) During the coming months, Voorheesville Central School District will begin the process of formulating a proposed spending plan for the 2012-2013 school year. For the most part, the school district budget development calendar will be similar to last year’s. However, the one dramatic change in the budget development process comes in the form of the state’s new tax levy cap legislation.

The law has been misconstrued and misrepresented in media sound bites as a “2 percent tax cap.” In fact, the law does not restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent. Instead, the law determines what level of support is needed for a school budget to pass. If the tax levy increase is above the tax levy limit—after accounting for exemptions—the support of a supermajority (60 percent) of voters would be required for budget passage. If the levy is within the limit, a simple majority is needed for budget approval.

To provide some clarification on this evolving topic, Capital Region BOCES, in partnership with Questar III, has released the publication "Understanding New York's Property Tax Levy Cap as it Relates to Public Schools."

Download the 6-page publication [pdf].