Newton officials were taken aback when the Massachusetts School Building Authority dictated how the city should ask voters for a tax increase to pay for new school buildings, but it signaled a years-long transition in the state’s role: from silent partner in school construction projects to active manager.

The building authority, which could contribute up to a third of the funding for two new elementary schools, scuttled Mayor Setti Warren’s initial plan to ask for one giant $11.4 million permanent tax increase to pay for the new schools, along with other city infrastructure and staff.