ALBANY - Most New Yorkers have the rare opportunity Tuesday to vote directly on public spending.

Yet the local school board votes on which tax bills, school board membership and major construction projects hinge will likely draw only a fraction of eligible voters.

In past years, a few hundred voters routinely rule on what will become 60 percent of New Yorkers' total property tax bills.

This year is different. School districts have the benefit of a historic $1.8 billion increase in state school aid as part of a plan to add billions more in coming years. State school aid is now more than $19 billion.

The average local budget increase will be 4 percent statewide despite the record state aid boost, notes the state Business Council.

Meanwhile, the state's largest teachers' union runs a $1 million television ad campaign warning of serious consequences for children if local taxpayers don't uphold their commitment.

“Stop cuts to arts, sports and after-school programs and avoid teacher layoffs,” states the TV ad, “to invest in the future of our kids and our community.”

Richard Iannuzzi, president of the New York State United Teachers union, acknowledges most schools aren't in such fiscal crisis and the state increase means only moderate increases in local spending in most districts.

But he said support on Tuesday is still critical.

“If the local communities are going to look at the state dollars as replacement of their own commitment, I think that is a mistake,” he said.

“Our goal is to really get the message out that if you see this as a positive and you know the danger of the negative, you have to go out and make that statement. You can't leave it to someone else,” Iannuzzi said.

He notes that much of the state's spending - for New York City and other high-needs, urban districts - was the result of a court order and lawsuits that found the state had underfunded the schools for years.

“What we're seeing is the same old scare tactics from the teachers' union and they are ignoring the fact that each district is in a different situation and a simple ‘no' vote isn't a vote against children,” said B. Jason Brooks of the Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability, a conservative think tank.

“You really need to look district by district, but an overwhelming majority of the districts have budget increases well beyond the rate of inflation and residents should take a careful look at what the money is being spent and on the level of achievement that the district has been getting.”

Polls are open at different times in districts and often at fewer and different polling places than general elections.