WPCNR ALBANY NEWS. From Office of Adam T. Bradley, Assemblyman, 89th District. (Edited) March 13, 2006: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) announced that the Assembly’s budget plan will provide over $39 million in total aid for schools in the 89th Assembly District, which is $1.4 million more than the governor proposed in his budget and $1.5 million more than last year. This will mean $325,513 more over Governor George Pataki's budget request, and $690,156 more than last year for White Plains, should the Senate pass the assembly version of the bill.
|
School Funding - 89th Assembly District |
|
School District |
Assembly Plan |
Increase over Governor’s Budget |
Increase over last year’s amount |
|
Bedford |
$ 5,673,701 |
$ 139,589 |
$ 47,387 |
|
Byram Hills |
$ 3,299,060 |
$ 166,969 |
$ 109,709 |
|
Chappaqua |
$ 6,381,539 |
$ 146,420 |
$ 239,073 |
|
Harrison |
$ 3,720,694 |
$ 127,894 |
$ 200,375 |
|
Katonah-Lewisboro |
$ 6,797,627 |
$ 198,246 |
$ 22,259 |
|
Valhalla |
$ 2,515,670 |
$ 350,612 |
$ 197,193 |
|
White Plains City |
$ 10,621,051 |
$ 325,513 |
$ 690,156 |
|
Total |
$ 39,009,342 |
$ 1,455,243 |
$ 1,506,152 |
“I remain committed to investing in our children’s future,” said Bradley. “By providing necessary funds to Westchester schools, we are not only ensuring a secure future for our children but we are helping protect our local property taxpayers.”
The Assembly proposes the creation of a Foundation Operating Aid formula that will provide transparent, predictable school funding. A foundation formula will provide the stability and predictability that school districts have been calling for and will ensure a functioning operating aid formula. The foundation formula estimates the cost of providing a sound education, adjusts for regional costs, student enrollment, student needs and reflects school district fiscal capacity. All school districts will receive a year to year Foundation operation aid increase of one percent through the new foundation formula.
The Assembly also restored cuts to several worthwhile programs, including:
o $19 million for Building Aid;
o $67.5 million for BOCES;
o $16 million for transportation;
o $112 million for special education;
o $2.75 million to ensure library aid keeps up with local population growth;
o $24.6 million to restore funding for Teacher Centers and Teacher mentors; and $6.5 million in new funding for teacher programs; and
o $6 million for the Employment Preparation Education program.
-more-
The Assembly has also set aside $100 million in new money for a Universal pre-kindergarten opt-in program, on top of the current funding of $204 million. For schools in the 89th Assembly District, that means an additional $410,400 for the following districts if they choose to opt-in:
· $105,300 for Bedford Schools
· $305,100 for White Plains City Schools
Importantly, under this plan, the White Plains City school district would receive an
additional $4,964,599 in Capital grant funds.
To better ensure schools are spending tax dollars wisely, the Assembly’s budget
plan doubles the amount of money used to audit schools districts, providing an extra $2.8 million over last year to root out fraud and corruption.
“Westchester families will certainly benefit from the Assembly’s education plan,” said Bradley. “I will continue working in a bipartisan fashion and hope that the governor and Senate will join us in helping address educational needs, while responsibly mitigating burdensome property taxes.”
