The Honorable Andrew Cuomo March 22, 2011
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Cuomo,
I am writing in regard to the education funding contained in your proposed budget. In your efforts to reduce State spending, a recurring theme you have emphasized is that the sacrifice be shared equally. Your proposal to return education funding to 2007-2008 levels will impact high need, rural and upstate schools disproportionately unless the formula by which these funds are distributed is amended.
Upstate schools educate 44% of the students in New York, yet under your proposal they shoulder 53% of the reduction in aid. I have included funding levels for five schools in my district to illustrate that the current funding formula is reducing funding levels for these districts below their 07-08 levels.
Granville Central School received $14,026,751 in State Aid for the 07-08 school year, and is projected to receive $11,895,179, a reduction of $2,131,572 or 15.2%. Whitehall Central School District received $7,955,652 in State Aid for the 07-08 school year, and is projected to receive $7,242,503, a reduction of $713,149 or 9%. Greenwich Central School District received $9,590,270 in State Aid for 07-08, and is projected to receive $7,774,000, a reduction of $1,816,270 or 18.9%. Cambridge Central School District received $9,123,905 in State Aid for 07-08, and is projected to receive $8,489,777, a reduction of $634,128 or 7%. The City of Mechanicville School District received $8,927,701 in State Aid for 07-08, and is projected to receive $7,942,086, a reduction of $985,615 or 11%.
As these examples show, these school districts are projected to experience reductions that would place their level of State Aid below 07-08 levels. An equitable aid formula would return all schools across the state to their 07-08 funding levels. I am asking that as part of the budget process you examine and redefine the current school aid formula to ensure the equal distribution of aid reductions to all schools across the State.
Sincerely,
Tony Jordan
Member of the Assembly
112th District
