2020-2021 Budget Revote - Rensselaer City School District

No, the STAR exemption or STAR credit (a newer methodology for new homeowners) is still in effect for individual taxpayers whether a district remains within the tax cap or not.

The property tax relief credit, which resulted in taxpayers receiving a check in or around the fall required a resident’s school district to be tax cap compliant. However, that program, which began in 2016, was fully phased in 2019, and as a result, will not be available for 2020. There is no rebate opportunity to lose this year.

Questions

How will this affect me?
We have developed a Tax Calculator so that each individual taxpayer can understand the increase.

Here are some examples:

How do we vote this time?
A Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of the Rensselaer City School District will be held at the Rensselaer City School District campus on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 between the hours of 12 noon & 9 p.m., prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine.

What will the ballot look like?
Please see a copy here: Ballot

How can I obtain an absentee ballot?
Applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable between 9:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the Office of the Rensselaer County Board of Elections.

When are ballots due now?
The Rensselaer County Board of Elections must receive completed applications at least seven (7) days before the annual vote. Absentee ballots must be received by the Rensselaer County Board of Elections not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. Due to the prevalence and community spread of COVID-19, the potential for contraction of the COVID-19 virus shall be deemed a temporary illness for the purpose of eligibility to vote as an absentee voter in a school budget revote held July 28, 2020.

How do I find out if I am registered?
Call the Board of Elections at 518-270-2990.

How do I register to vote?
Call the Board of Elections at 518-270-2990.

How much do we spend compared to others?
According to the NYS Fiscal Accountability Summary, our per-student spending is below both the high needs school average and the state average for spending.

What might it look like if there was not a -11.1% tax levy in 2017?

What will happen if the budget does not pass?
If the budget does not pass, there will be a contingency budget. That would result in a 0% tax increase and additional appropriated fund balance. The district would then be projected to run out of fund balance after next year’s budget. This is a difficult situation as we try to stabilize the long term fiscal health of the district.

Why does the Board of Elections handle Rensselaer City School District’s vote and not other schools?

The canvassing of the ballots for Rensselaer’s annual election and budget vote is conducted pursuant to Election Law and not Education Law.

With the exception of Rensselaer, every Small City School District in the State has its elections governed by Article 53 of the Education Law Section 2601-a

Rensselaer’s elections are specifically included in Section 2502 of the Education Law.