What Is the Capital Outlay Bill?
The Capital Outlay Bill provides state support for school district capital expenses including building repairs, renovations, safety upgrades, and long-term infrastructure improvements. These funds help districts address aging facilities, rising construction costs, deferred maintenance, and urgent capital needs while easing pressure on local taxpayers.
Capital outlay funding is especially important for districts with limited local tax capacity, helping ensure equitable access to safe, healthy, and modern school facilities across New York State.
Why Your Voice Matters
As school facilities professionals, you bring firsthand experience and credibility to this conversation. Legislators rely on real-world examples to understand how funding decisions affect students, staff, and communities. Your perspective helps reinforce that school buildings are not optional expenses, they are essential public infrastructure.
What Action Can You Take?
We encourage you to contact your state legislators and urge them to support the Capital Outlay Bill. To make this easy, we have provided a sample message you can use as-is or personalize with examples from your district.
When reaching out, consider highlighting:
- Specific facility challenges your district is facing
- How capital outlay funding would help address safety, accessibility, or modernization needs
- The importance of predictable and reliable state investment
How to Find Your Local Legislators:
- Go to the VoterVoice homepage and enter your zip code in the section that says “View Your Election Center”
- Once you enter your zip code, you’ll be asked for your street address
- This will take you to your personal “Election Center” page. Click “View Officials” then click “Continue”
- You’ll then have the choice of viewing your Federal and State elected officials. The links provided will include email and mailing addresses and, in some cases, phone numbers
Thank you for your continued advocacy and commitment to New York’s school facilities. Your engagement plays a vital role in ensuring that all students can learn in safe, functional, and future-ready school environments.