Devastating Impact of 2 percent Tax Cap

WHAT DOES A 2% TAX CAP

MEAN TO SAYVILLE SCHOOLS?

Sayville residents should be aware of the impact of a 2% property tax cap on the staffing and programs in our schools.

While New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo faces huge economic challenges when he assumes the office, his campaign to impose a 2% property tax cap for school districts is certain to become a promise with devastating consequences. As you may be aware, this situation is not unique to Sayville. It is a widespread problem affecting all New York State school districts.

Sayville School District has consistently presented lean budgets for vote by the taxpayers. Each year, the taxpayers have supported our cost-cutting measures by passing the budget. For this, we have been most grateful. A lean budget, however, also means there is very little extra to cut on the spending side this year.  Even last year, our budget challenges did not arise from the spending side, but rather, from the revenue side, because the promise of federal and state aid was drastically reduced. On top of those expected shortfalls, this year there is now the new threat of the 2 % tax cap.

In anticipation of what a 2% property tax cap could mean to Sayville Schools, the Sayville Board of Education requested a financial report from Assistant Superintendent for Business John J. Belmonte. (Please review the full report below.)

Clearly, during a time of diminished federal and state revenues, imposing the 2% cap compounds the issue at all levels. The loss of many staff positions will have a devastating affect on all of our instructional and support programs. After reviewing this report, ask yourself this question: Shouldn’t our policy makers be growing jobs, not cutting them, to help us achieve economic recovery?

We encourage the entire Sayville community to write or email the Governor-elect and your local legislators. Let them know that a 2% property tax cap is not the answer to this economic problem!

(As soon as our newly-elected officials have contact information, we will make that information available. Please check back for updates about our legislators.)