RESTORE ALBANY TO
FISCAL  SOLVENCY
CONSOLIDATE CITY
SCHOOLS WITH CITY
GOVERNMENT

Consolidate City schools with
City government, create one
property tax roll to finance both
return to neighborhood k-8
schools, make the mayor responsible
accountable for operation/performance
of Albany City Schools.

The City of Albany is at the brink
of fiscal insolvency. The 2017 City
budget was passed by the Albany
Common Council with a 12.5 million
gap, which was closed by a one time
grant of 12.5 million dollars in state aid
this year arranged by Governor Cuomo.

However, because the Mayor and
Common Council have declared
Albany to be a Sanctuary City
The City of Albany will loose 7
million , or more, dollars annual
federal aid. 

The Albany City School District
has a  $224 million annual budget and
in 2015 pushed through a $ 200 million
dollar bond act for a complete renovation
and expansion of Albany High School.
In 2016 another referendum was approved
to acquire and add a 4th middle school.
Work begins on both measures this year.

Albany city schools have a 50 percent
drop out rate. Not a good return for
crushing property taxes imposed on
home owners and small businesses  in
the City.

The school district population has
grown because of the thousands of
refugees settled in Albany as a result
of, policies of former President Obama
with the support of Congressman Tonko.

The School District is converting the
former North Albany K-8 neighborhood
school to a special school for non-English
speaking arrivals.

The Albany City schools are sure to
face fiscal shortfalls in future years
resulting in huge increases in property
taxes.


 http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Albany-schools-face-2-1M-budget-gap-6920939.php

School property taxes account for 2/3 of
 high property tax burden paid by home
owners and small businesses in the City
of Albany.

A bill shifting school board elections from
November to May was passed by the State
Legislature this session and before the
Governor for signature.

Governor Cuomo, a great proponent of
consolidation as a means of achieving
fiscal  solvency, should veto this bill.
Governor Cuomo called the State Legislature
back to Albany this week ,for a special session
to extend mayoral control of NYC schools
for another two years.

http://www.timesunion.com/7dayarchive/article/Albany-school-board-elections-may-soon-switch-to-11260004.php

 http://www.albanyschools.org/district/communications/DistrictNews/2016-17/School.board.elections.6-30-17.htm

Furthermore, the new Mayor and Common
Council elected in the November 7, 2017
City General Election should send a Home
Rule Message to the State Legislature in
January 2018 calling for amendments to
State Law providing for consolidation of
City schools with city government as proposed
above.

State Legislators representing Albany voters 
should sponsor, introduce and push the requisite
legislation  to passage in the 2018 session.

The Consolidation Question should appear
on the November 7, 2017 General Election
ballot to be voted upon by Albany city voters.

                                               Joe Sullivan