There is a need to change the formula used to fund school districts so that Greenburgh Central can get the dollars they deserve
For years many residents of the Greenburgh School district have complained that Albany does not treat Greenburgh Central fairly. The school district is predominantly made up of African Americans and Hispanic students. Yet, the formula that the state of NY uses in distributing school aid is not favorable to the Greenburgh school district. An e blast from Assemblymember Mary Jane Shimsky highlights the disparity and unfairness. Greenburgh Central is receiving in the 2023 budget that was just approved millions less in increased formula funding than other school districts in the region. The Assemblywoman did indicate that the school district is eligible for a 3% increase from last year.
I believe that the State Legislature and Governor should take a hard look at the formula and come up with a plan that would be more favorable to the Greenburgh school district. I would like to work with the school district and lobby Albany to address this unfair policy.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
EXTERNAL: Do not click links or open attachments if you do not recognize the sender.
|
Dear Friends, After an additional month of negotiations and debate, New York State enacted a budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. It is often said that a budget is not just a list of numbers, but a statement of values. While not everything the Legislature asked of the Governor made it into the final budget, the final spending and investment plan should improve the lives of all New Yorkers. These are some highlights from the Fiscal Year 2023-34 Budget: EDUCATION Every public school district in New York will be fully funded for the first time since the State adopted the Foundation Aid formula in 2007. This year’s $2.6 billion increase brings total Foundation Aid up to $24 billion, and it couldn’t have come at a more critical time, as the 2% cap on year-to-year increases has left our districts struggling to keep up with the rate of inflation. There is more work to be done to make sure the formula is equitable, which we hope to address for the 2024-25 fiscal year, but this year's increase represents a significant stride for our schools and our children. The increases in Foundation Aid funding makes a big difference in the overall funding increases to almost all of our school districts. The 2023-24 school aid increases for each of our school districts are as follows: - $4 million increase for Ardsley Union Free School District
- $1.8 million increase for Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District
- $2 million increase for Elmsford Union Free School District
- $1.6 million increase for Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District
- $233,497 increase for Greenburgh Central 7*
- $2.2 million increase for Irvington Union Free School District
- $2.7 million increase for Mount Pleasant Central School District
- $2 million increase for Pleasantville Union Free School District
- $149,306 decrease for Pocantico Hills Central School District**
- $4 million increase for Public Schools of the Tarrytowns
- $1.3 million increase for Valhalla Union Free School District
- $14 million increase for Yonkers Public Schools
The education budget also provides $135 million to expand free school meal programs by up to 300,000 more students, $115 million for Schools for the Blind and Deaf (4201 Schools), and an increase of $150 million for Universal Prekindergarten (UPK). The Child Tax Credit will be extended to families with children under 4 years old There will be no tuition increase this year for New York’s SUNY and CUNY students, with the budget’s increase of $281 million in operating aid. The budget provides an additional $3 billion in much-needed capital funding for the two systems. As a CUNY graduate myself, I was determined to see that our public universities — which make the difference in so many lives and in our communities — continue to provide affordable, quality educational opportunities to our residents. |