ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO RESTORE FUNDING IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.  

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL’S education BUDGET PLAN PROPOSES CHANGES TO FOUNDATION AID—THE STATE’S MAIN EDUCATION OPERATING FORMULA AND A PRIMARY SOURCE OF STATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

SHE PROPOSES A WEALTH BASED TRANSITION ADJUSTMENT TO THE FORMULA INTENDING TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR POORER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND MODERATE THE IMPACT OF ENROLLMENT DECLINES.  

BUT LAWMAKERS SAID THIS CHANGE WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS across THE STATE.  

“We are not, my conference and I, and I know my colleagues many of them on their side of the aisle, are not going to go quietly in the night balancing the 2024 budget on the backs of our kids, their education or the taxpayers of New York State,” said Sen. James Tedisco (R-44th Senate District).

OTHER LAWMAKERS SAid IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE SCHOOLS HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING. 

“We fought for all these years to get foundation aid. We won’t go back; we can’t go back. This is the year to put our foot down and say that our schools need to be funded fairly, appropriately, and according to the law,” said Sen. Shelley Mayer (D-37th Senate District).

THE NEW YORK STATE PTA President Helen Hoffman said STUDENTS NEED A VARIETY OF RESOURCES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND SCHOOLS RELY ON FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLY STUDENTS WITH THOSE SUPPORTS.  

“Schools, educators, school related professionals and staff do incredible things for children they serve each and every day and it is the state's responsibility to support them,” Hoffman said.