White Plains CitizeNetReporter - <i>Amy Paulin's Albany:</i> The Governor's Education Budget: $1B LESS.

The Albany Journal, Filed by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, 3/1/02, 1:00 AM EST: The governor recently unveiled his 2002-03 state budget proposal which, once again, cuts education aid. His new school aid plan gives New York’s schools $1 billion less to educate our kids than under the law in effect just two short years ago.

The governor’s proposal doesn’t take into account the realities of inflation, increasing costs of education, and growing enrollments.

Sample Cuts

School aid for the New Rochelle School District – one of the hardest hit under the governor’s plan – will be cut by almost $2.8 million. Smaller school districts in our community will also suffer – the Pelham School District will lose over $845,000 and Eastchester will receive over $750,000 less than two years ago. These state aid decreases could force property taxpayers to make up the difference.

Building Aid Formula Tinkering

Last year, the Assembly fought and won the battle to maintain the building aid formula. However, the governor has once again proposed changing the building-aid ratio – resulting in substantial cuts in funding for much-needed construction projects.

Stretches Reimbursements for Renovations

In addition, he proposes reimbursement for renovations be stretched out over 15, 20 or 30 years – forcing school districts to ask voters to approve bond acts instead. Construction projects are necessary to helping schools accommodate growing enrollments and upgrade aging facilities. Providing our children anything less than a modern, safe learning environment just isn’t acceptable.

No additional operating aid.

The governor also lumps funding for special education and BOCES together with several other funding categories and freezes aid at last year’s level, providing no additional basic operating aid to schools in New York State. Without this funding, schools will struggle to provide vital learning opportunities to our neediest children.

LADDER plan funding shortfall

Since 1998, the Assembly’s successful LADDER plan has helped schools reduce class sizes, improve teacher training, establish universal pre-kindergarten, provide full-day kindergarten programs, and modernize computer technology. Each year the Assembly looks to meet the high academic standards that have become the benchmark of New York’s school system through effective programs like LADDER.

Unfortunately, the governor’s plan fails to fully fund LADDER.

Class-Size Aid hurts cities

The governor’s budget proposal cuts the Class-Size Reduction Program – relied on by small city districts. For example, the New Rochelle School District is losing at least $50,000 in the Class-Size Reduction Program and Mount Vernon is losing at least $90,000 under the governor’s plan.

Analysis

There is nothing more important to our children’s future than a quality education. As your Assembly representative, I am working to make sure our children have the resources they need for a high-quality education.

I will work in the Assembly to undo the damage caused by the governor’s proposed budget cuts. As we struggle to do more with less, we can’t afford to jeopardize the education we provide our children.

Note: Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, White Plains representative in the State Assembly writes Amy Paulin's Albany monthly for White Plains CitizeNetReporter.


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