Published: May 19, 2008 03:45 am         

School votes are important

On Tuesday, New Yorkers will exercise their voting rights on school budgets, school board members and other measures. Though not as hyped as races for other elected offices, the voters' say on local school matters is often the closest to direct control a person has.

School budgets affect our children's education, and they affect the finances of property owners. Even those people who have neither children nor property will eventually see the community shaped by such decisions.

So, the first order of business is for voters to go to the polls. To not do so would be to abdicate a voice on local matters and local money.

In each school district, voters must consider many factors as to whether to vote for a budget. In some districts, dissatisfaction over personnel or other issues may lead to voters rejecting a budget regardless of its fiscal merits.

For building projects or other ballot measures, there is a cost-benefit analysis to be made. Voters must make a decision of conscience; knowledge of the issues and voter turnout therefore become ever more important.

The spending increase and corresponding tax-levy increase are the prominent issues for many voters. In general, most of the area's school districts are projecting a spending increase that's higher than the tax-levy increase.

Much of this is due to a record increase in state aid. Where is that increase being spent? In many cases, it's on higher costs for fuel, whether it be for school buses or heating. Depending upon the district, it may be spent on teachers or programs or building projects.

For these many districts _ where the proposed tax-levy hike is less than the spending increase _ that difference often will mean they are holding the line on spending. Despite the increase in state aid, efforts are being made to prevent property owners from having to also increase their giving. In general, absent of a separate, compelling argument, approving such budgets would be the proper course of action.

Complicating the decision for voters is the two-vote system the state has. For districts whose budgets are rejected, there will be a second vote in June, where districts will try again to win over constituents. If rejected again, a state contingency rate _ this year, it's a spending increase of 3.36 percent _ comes into play.

In those situations, the voter is faced with a different problem. A vote against a first budget may be symbolic, to wake up a district. A second "no" vote, however, will force a school into mandated cuts, which the voter may not want.

All in all, we urge residents to weigh their decisions carefully, consider the difficult economic climate, and most importantly, vote.