The majority of school budgets across New York did pass on Election Day — but that means a few didn't.
Many school districts proposed layoffs or eliminating jobs through attrition. That wasn't the case for every proposal voted on Tuesday, but one thing that is consistent is the need for resources. That is what had many voters concerned going into these votes.
As of now, 10 school districts out of the 700 across the state had their budgets fail. And for some that may have come with the needed super-majority.
Those districts are:
- Rush-Henrietta CSD
- Ithaca CSD
- Corning-Painted Post Area School District
- St. Regis Falls CSD
- Belleville Henderson CSD
- Berne-Knox-Westerlo CSD
- Northville CSD
- Salem CSD
- Newburgh Enlarged City School District
- Saugerties CSD
If the proposed tax levy is above the tax cap, for example, 60% approval is required. Otherwise, a simple majority is what is needed for these votes.
So what's next for these districts? District leaders can either go back to the drawing board to create a revised budget that goes up for its own vote or they can present the original budget again.
Revote day is June 18.
If the vote isn't approved or they don't want to do a second budget, the district will operate under a contingency budget. These include only teachers’ salaries and items the board of education determines to be "ordinary contingent expenses."
Those are educational programs, preserving property and ensuring the health and safety of students and staff.
Districts cannot go for a third vote.
An annual budget must be in place by July 1.