This bill provides school districts that have shifted their annual elections to November with the ability to submit separate proposals for additional funding for both the current and subsequent budget years. It amends existing law to allow these districts to present distinct funding proposals that can be approved by voters. Notably, if a proposal for the subsequent budget year is approved, the district is restricted from increasing its adjusted tax levy for that year by the amount authorized in the proposal. This change aims to enhance budget planning for districts facing challenges due to the timing of voter approvals.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a process for districts to adopt a temporary budget while awaiting voter approval of the additional funding proposals. If the proposals are approved, the district must submit the final budget to the commissioner within 15 days; if not, the temporary budget will become the final budget for the school year. The bill also stipulates that any proposals for increasing the tax levy must not include essential programs or services for meeting core curriculum standards and must provide clear statements regarding the intended use of the funds. The act is set to take effect immediately, applying first to the 2024-2025 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:7F-5, 18A:7F-5.4, 18A:7F-5.5, 18A:7F-5.6, 18A:7F-37, 18A:7F-39