Education Committee Takes Up Legislation Providing Mandate Relief For School Districts And Reducing Tax Burden For Homeowners
Today, the New York State Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, (D-Westchester) will take up several pieces of legislation aimed at providing mandate relief and affording greater flexibility to school districts to manage expenses and achieve cost savings in an effort to reduce the tax burden on homeowners.
The Education Mandate Relief Act of 2010 (S.5523A [5]), sponsored by Senator Oppenheimer, prohibits the implementation of new state mandates after the start of a school fiscal year. It further authorizes school districts to enter into piggyback contracts for the provision of shared transportation services and directs Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to convene committees of school and community leaders to examine options for cost-containment through consolidation and the shared provision of services. The bill would also authorize BOCES to provide internal and claims auditing services on a shared basis to member districts and permit school districts to create reserve funds for future employer contributions to the Teachers’ Retirement System.
WHO:
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer
Senate Education Committee
WHEN: TODAY Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Room 124 CAP
***The hearing will be streamed live at: http://www.livestream.com/nysenate_education [6].
