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Keep the Promise: Fully Fund the Foundation Formula and Restore Cuts

Level of Government: State

As a constituent and member of NYSUT, I am writing to request your support for fully funding the K-12 Education budget and restoring the proposed cuts in funding to our schools.

I would like to begin by thanking you for enacting school funding reform last year and making a historic commitment to fund education fully over the next several years.  I specifically want to applaud the enactment of a Foundation Formula in last year's budget.  Adding resources fairly to public schools across the state, with an extra commitment in areas of high need, was and continues to be the right priority for both children and taxpayers.  While I understand the tough fiscal times the state is experiencing – it is essential in our efforts to close the achievement gap that we keep the multi-year commitment made to our children.

That brings me to the Executive's proposed budget for education in 2008-09.  Central to the historic education commitment last year was a revised Foundation Aid formula that promised every district a minimum 3 percent increase in state aid, with high-need school districts getting more.  While the $900 million increase in Foundation Aid to districts represents a healthy increase over last year, I am disappointed that the Executive Budget request has scaled back the planned $1.25 billion increase.  I would urge you to add the funding necessary to meet the full commitment.

I would also ask that you avoid cutting any district from its base level of funding.  In last year's budget, several new aid categories were created by the Legislature.  To eliminate or reallocate these aid categories without replacing the funding would leave some school districts with substantial losses from one year to the next.

The Executive's proposed budget also proposes a cut in funding to the state's Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).  This reduction would be $67 million below what districts would otherwise receive under current law.  Districts have counted on this funding for students currently enrolled in BOCES programs. These cuts break the promise made to students, staff and taxpayers.

Another proposal which concerns me is the proposed shift to school districts of the costs associated with evaluation and administration of preschool special education.  The proposal to shift $46 million in costs for pre-school special education to school districts from a broader and more equitable revenue base flies in the face of reducing the pressure on school property taxes.  If the state wishes to provide additional help to counties, then the state should provide greater assistance -- not merely shift it to school property taxes.  It is contradictory to advocate on the one hand capping property taxes, and on the other hand, passing on extra costs to school districts.

I thank you in advance for your support.

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