How would a tax cap impact your school district's funding?
NOTE: The worksheet was updated 5/12 to replace projections for 2008-09 with actual tax levy data.
The State Commission on Property Tax Relief is expected to release a proposal for a property tax cap on May 22, 2008.
To demonstrate the impact of a property tax cap on school district revenues, the NYSUT Research and Educational Services Department has developed an online worksheet to estimate the cumulative impact in your school district if a tax cap had been implemented in 2005.
The worksheet assumes the cap for each year would be the lesser of 120% of the Consumer Price Index or 4%; this is the current standard for developing a contingency budget. Here are the projected caps for the 4 years:
- 2005-06: 3.24%
- 2006-07: 4.00%
- 2007-08: 3.84%
- 2008-09: 3.36%
Statewide, the estimated impact of a tax cap over the last four years would be a revenue loss to school districts of $1,279,559,374.
In order to find the impact for your district, use the drop down list included in the worksheet.
Pass it on!
We encourage you to use this information to educate your community members and elected officials on the impact of the cap on your school district. Send them to www.nysut.org/taxcapworksheet .
"The right kind of cap." Research shows that arbitrary tax caps erode local control, dismantle strong district programs and penalize the poorest communities.
In the media
WORKSHEET: How would a tax cap impact your school district's funding? Use this simple, handy online worksheet to find out how much your district would have already lost if a tax cap had been implemented in 2005.
NYSUT ANALYSIS: Report of the Commission on Property Tax Relief. While acknowledging the need for property tax relief, NYSUT says the commission's proposal would harm public education and 'is the wrong approach to alleviating the unfair burden placed on some homeowners.'
Updates
- Daily Gazette: Outlook grim for tax cap bill
- AP: Union foes killing property tax cap in NY Legislature
- Daily News: NYSUT hits the air waves against Paterson
- Times Union: Burying the tax cap
- Editorial: Tax cap would have unforeseen consequences
- NY Times: Property tax gimmick does more harm than good
- Governor's endorsement sets stage for conflicts
- Fiscal Fairness response to commission report
- BALCONY reponse to commission report
- Panel recommends capping school taxes at 4 percent
- A hunger for a property-tax cap, but the teachers' union isn't feeling it
- NYSUT Testimony to the Commission on Property Tax Relief
- Lubin urges rejection of tax cap
- NYSUT activists to urge Legislature to keep the promise
- Transition in Albany raises questions on cap
- Iannuzzi: Let's not cap our ability to end gap
- Weingarten: Our kids deserve better than cuts and caps
- Legislators voice objections over tax caps.
- Superintendent makes case for opposing tax caps.
Research and Analysis
- Property tax caps limit educational investment
- Research shows negative effects of property tax caps
- Hidden Consequences: Lessons from Massachusetts
- NYSUT Testimony to the Commission on Property Tax Relief
'Yes' votes prevail as 92 percent of budgets pass. Last year, New York voters acknowledged continued academic progress and generally lower property tax increases.
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