REASSESSMENT: CITY SCHOOLS THE PROBLEM

Albany City homeowners, have received their Notice of Reassessment Disclosure, and the news is not good.  Most homes have doubled in value based on comparative sales in a overinflated market, where decline has set in.

This translates to hefty projected property tax increases, of a 1,000 dollars or more. This is particularly devestating in a city where less than a third of the housing is owner occupied and where that owner occupance population is aging, with many on fixed incomes.

Upon closer inspection of the projected property tax increases resulting from this revaluation,  80 percent of the increase per residential unit, will  be levied by the city school district.

This is unacceptable. The Albany City schools will be receiving an additional $9.6 million dollars in state aid this year.  The school district has been mismanged, in the recent decades, by a succession of incompetent school boards and superintendents, who are not accountable to the property tax payers of this city.  Poor performance of the student population, school board and superintendent can no longer be tolerated.

The solution? Dissolve the city school district, and school board,  make the Mayor responsible and accountable for the functioning and performance of the city schools. Establish ONE property tax levy citywide. Trim school expenses by eliminating the top heavy administration. Establish a residency requirement for all  teachers and school staff. Return to a K-8 neighborhood school system which is best for kids, parents and neighborhoods.

Mayor Jennings must go to Governor Spitzer and request that the Governor introduce legislation, this session, to achieve the above educational reforms, and to make certain that legislation passes this session.

Governor Spitzer wants accountability in the public schools. As far as the City of Albany is concerned, there will be no accountability without establishing a clear chain of command - make the Mayor responsible and accountable for the city schools,  based on establishment of a single property tax base. as supplemented by state aid.

To the detriment of children, parents and city property taxpayers, the Albany City schools have been a pawn in a political power struggle by a liberal faction of the Democratic Party, which has gained control of those schools, and is now seeking to control the Mayor's office and city government.

Making the Mayor responsible and accountable for the city schools, together with implentation of a single property tax levy , will result in improved student performance as the city returns to a K-8 neighborhood school system. This in turn will help spur revitalization and stability in Albany's deteriorating residential neighborhoods. Smart education equals smart growth.

                                                                                    J P Sullivan