Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to Pass a bill to restore increases in the school budget.

Highlights:

• Establishes for the 2024-2025 year that the commissioner shall authorize an eligible school district to adopt a budget that increases the adjusted tax levy (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the maximum allowable increase to the adjusted tax levy shall be equal to one-third the amount of the school district State school aid reduction (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits an eligible school district from increasing its adjusted tax levy by more than 9.9 percent of the prebudget year adjusted tax levy (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that the requested increase to an adjusted tax levy shall not apply to the SDA district (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to allow a school district that experienced a net reduction in State school aid during 2020-2021 through the 2024-2025 school years to adopt a budget that includes an increase in its adjusted tax levy (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Commissioner to approve increases requested (Sec. 1). 

• Defines that for any school district that receives an aid grant under the Stabilization School Budget Aid Grant Program the increases requested shall be no more than the amount of the school net reduction in State school aid during the 2020-2021 through 2023-2024 school years (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that school districts that have already certified their adjusted tax levy prior to approval, the secretary of the board of education shall re-certify to the county board of taxation the sum to be raised for the school district (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the sum of appropriations to be $71,437,562 from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that this act will take effect immediately (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text