FOIL-AO-17853

E-MAIL

From:   Jobin-Davis, Camille (DOS)
Sent:    Tuesday, October 20, 2009 4:39 PM
To:      
Cc:       Freeman, Robert (DOS); Mercer, Janet (DOS)
Subject:           RE: School posting of administrative information

:

      After researching the provisions of law that were enacted as reported in the article that you
forwarded (thank you!!), I learned that the following language was signed into law on October
7, 2008 (Chapter 640):

      Education Law § 1716

      §  1716.  Estimated expenses for ensuing year. 1. It shall be the duty of the board of education of each district  to  present  at  the  annual   budget  hearing  a  detailed statement in writing of the amount of money which will be  required  for  the  ensuing  year for school  purposes, specifying  the several purposes and the amount for each. The amount for each purpose estimated necessary for payments to boards  of  cooperative educational  services  shall  be  shown  in  full,  with no deduction of estimated state aid. The amount of state aid provided and its percentage
relationship to the total expenditures shall also be shown. This section shall not be  construed  to  prevent  the  board  from  presenting  such statement  at  a  budget  hearing held not less than seven nor more than fourteen days prior to a special meeting called  for  the  purpose, nor from presenting a supplementary and amended statement or estimate at any time.

      2.  Such  statement  shall be completed at least seven days before the budget hearing at which it is to be presented and copies  thereof  shall be prepared and made available, upon request and at the school district offices, at any public library or free association  library  within  the district  and  on the school district's internet website, if one exists, to residents within the district during  the  period  of  fourteen  days immediately  preceding  the  annual  meeting  and  election  or  special district meeting at which the budget vote will occur and at such meeting or hearing.

      This appears to be a requirement that school districts post a statement detailing proposed budget information on the district’s website at least seven days before the budget hearing, and for the 14 day period prior to the annual meeting and election or the meeting at which the budget vote will occur.

      I hope that this is helpful to you.  Please let me know if you have any questions, and again, thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Camille