Syracuse (WSYR-TV) –
Question: Why can’t taxpaying residents in the city of Syracuse vote on city school district budgets?
Answer: Residents in any of New York’s “Big Five” city school districts are unable to vote on their schools’ budgets. Those districts include Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Yonkers, and New York City.
Cities in New York with populations of more than 125,000 people are called dependent school districts and they are considered a component of their respective cities for financial purposes.
City property and school taxes are levied together, whereas districts in suburban or rural areas levy their own taxes.
The Syracuse City School District budget is adopted with Board of Education and Common Council approval.
Public hearings are held between February and March of each year to dscuss the school budget.
The city also hosts a public hearing in May to gather input from taxpayers.
If you have a question for the Your Stories team, call us any time at (315) 446-9900 or email YourStories@9wsyr.com.
