State ballot question approval will benefit districts like Albany

New York voters have approved an amendment to the state constitution that will level the playing field for small-city school districts like Albany when it comes to paying for facilities improvements and construction. 

Proposition #1 passed by a wide margin Nov. 7, providing the state’s 57 small-city school districts with the same debt limit as all rural and suburban districts. Previously, the state constitution capped the debt limit for small-city districts at 5% while the more than 600 rural and suburban districts have a limit of 10%.

This inequity has made it more difficult to fund school upgrades and construction for small-city school districts, which have been required to get 60% approval from voters to exceed the 5% limit, rather than a simple majority. 

The state’s small-city school districts – districts serving cities with fewer than 125,000 residents – now will be treated the same as rural and suburban counterparts. All public school districts in New York now will have the same 10% limit and require a simple majority of "yes" votes for approval.

You can follow this link for more information about Proposition #1.

According to New York State United Teachers, more than 200,000 students attend small-city school districts in New York. On average, 62% of those students are economically disadvantaged (in the City School District of Albany, more than 70% of our students are economically disadvantaged). 

This compares to 36% of students attending rural and suburban districts. 

Here is the language that appeared on the ballot for Proposition #1:

“The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?”

Thank you to everyone who voted!