Senator Bonacic Announces Bill to Set School Proposition Votes on Certain Dates Passes in the Senate

Senator John Bonacic (R/I/C – Mount Hope) announces that the NYS Senate today passed  Senate Bill 2015-A which states that school district proposition votes shall be held only on the third Tuesday of May (or second Tuesday if the third Tuesday conflicts with religious observances), or on one or both of two dates set by the Commissioner of Education. 

“The Times Herald-Record had it right when they stated, ‘It’s always election day for NY school districts’ because right now, there is no restriction on dates that school districts schedule proposition votes, and are scheduled when low turnout is expected,” said Senator  Bonacic. “This bill has been delivered to the Assembly, and the Democratic majority pushes it back.  We need for this to pass, so that voting dates are on a set schedule that allows the community to prepare for it, so they can voice their approval for, or opposition to, school propositions that may cost millions of dollars.”

However, Senator Bonacic said, the bill would make the provision for a school district to schedule an emergency proposition vote in the event of an immediate need, such as building repairs due to weather damage or other causes, as long as two-thirds of the school board approves.

The bill has been sent, once again, to the Assembly.

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