SCHOOL TAX WATCH

Each year, the Public Policy Institute uses data from the state Education Department to compile "School Tax Watch": a comprehensive table showing how much school districts in New York State will propose to increase spending and the amount of taxes they collect in budgets that will be submitted to voters in May. Virtually every year, the proposed increases are twice or more the rate of inflation. Here are links to recent years' releases on School Tax Watch reports.

• 2009 - would increase per-pupil spending to an average $19,461 – an increase of 3 percent
  
  
• 2007 - School Districts propose plans to raise spending at twice the inflation rate, study finds
  
  
• 2006 - School Districts again plan to raise spending at twice the inflation rate, study finds
  
  
• 2005 - School budgets would raise spending by more than twice the inflation rate, study finds
  
  
• 2004 - School budgets would raise spending by 2.5 times inflation rate, study finds
  
  
• 2003 - School budgets would raise spending by 2.5 times inflation rate study finds
  
  
• 2002 - School budget proposals would raise average per-pupil spending to $12,888, up 3.3 percent from current year, study finds
  
  
• 2001 - School budget proposals would raise property taxes, at twice the rate of inflation, study finds
  
  
• 2000 - School districts proposals contain tax increases, averaging two times inflation, study finds
  
  
• 1999 - Most school districts raised taxes by more than inflation rate, study shows; taxpayers' savings from 'Star' Program at risk