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  • School budget notice template now available

    Download the school budget notice template as an InDesign file or Word doc

  • Educate your community about the budget process

    Share frequently asked questions, handouts and Portfolio’s “School Budgets Explained in 60 Seconds” video with voters

  • More districts required to create Foundation Aid plans

    Download a template for your district’s Foundation Aid plan

  • Advisory: Answer common taxpayer questions with a budget Q&A

    Communicating about a particular school district’s proposed operating budget typically requires tailoring communications to fit a district’s individual circumstances, priorities and decision-making. However, there are many topics that all school districts must address and that can be communicated near-universally. To help districts answer some common taxpayer questions, the School Communications Portfolio has prepared a Q&A…

  • Advisory: New laws impact school district elections

    Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed two pieces of legislation intended to ease New York state residents’ ability to exercise their right to vote in school district elections. What you need to know about the simplified ballot application The state amended Election Law in 2010 to simplify the absentee ballot application for registered voters, but it…

  • Reserve Funds: Saving for the Future

    Saving for a rainy day isn’t just a goal for most adults. It’s a goal for school districts, too. Reserve funds allow school districts in New York state to set aside money for future use, following strict legal requirements. Such funds are an important factor in determining a district’s fiscal health. They are also part…

  • Fiscal transparency law includes new reporting requirements

    A law, approved in 2016, aimed at increasing the transparency of New York state school district finances will take effect in school fiscal year 2017-18. The new statute – Chapter 514 of the Laws of 2016 — will require districts to post certain budget and finance documents on their websites, if one exists, and will…

  • Communicate about the impact of the Alternative Veterans Tax Exemption in your school community

    The Alternative Veterans Tax Exemption law was amended in December 2013 to permit school districts to offer the exemption to taxpayers along with municipalities. Because tax exemptions such as these may cause a significant tax shift among taxpayers, offering them is a decision that is not taken lightly by district leaders. The School Communications Portfolio…

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