By SAMANTHA PAWLAK
Legislative Gazette Staff Writer
Mon, Jan 28, 2008

Last Tuesday, Gov. Eliot Spitzer proposed a record $1.46 billion increase in funding for 2008-2009 ¯ the second year of a $7 billion, four-year Education Investment Plan. This allocation represents the largest amount ever proposed by a governor for education, bringing the total education spending to $21.01 billion, a 7.4 percent increase from the current fiscal year.

Despite this, many education advocates argued that Spitzer’s budget didn’t reflect his belief that “excellence in higher education is the key to a better future for our state.”

Many are disappointed because the governor had promised a $1.25 billion increase in foundation aid in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, but only increased it by $900 million. Although it is still an increase, it is less than what the governor had committed to, they said.

The New York State School Boards Association represents nearly 700 school boards and more than 5,000 school board members in New York. The group’s Executive Director, Timothy G. Kremer, said, “While the $900 million increase in foundation aid to school districts represents a healthy increase over last year, we are disappointed that the governor has scaled back the planned $1.25 billion increase.”

The problems stem from the governor’s scaling back of the amount of foundation aid for this year. If this is combined with a property tax cap ¯ a popular idea in Albany lately ¯ NYSSBA believes schools will suffer.

David Albert, director of communications and research at NYSSBA said, “We recognize the governor had to make some difficult decisions and we greatly appreciate his proposed record increase.” Nonetheless, concerns about the tax cap looms.

“It would not be providing enough funding and then preventing schools from raising funds locally,” explains Albert. “Things such as health care, fuel costs and employee retirement are rising at a rate higher then inflation. If a tax cap does occur there will have to be a mandate for relief.”

Alan Lubin, executive vice president of the New York State United Teachers, said in tough economic times, one shouldn’t cut back, but think of “investing in education as the engine to the state’s economy and our children’s future.”

Lubin added, “… A tax cap proposal would remove local control and take us in the wrong direction at a time when New York’s education progress is being recognized. By contrast, increasing the state’s share of education aid would reduce property tax burdens without removing local control over schools.”

Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said “The money should be included in the Contract for Excellence to ensure that it is spent on methods proven to improve education such as reducing class size and reforming middle schools. While not covered by the Contract for Excellence, we also feel that funding should be included to provide universal pre-kindergarten classes and expand career and technical education.”

The New York State Coalition for School Based Health Centers, which provides health and mental health services directly to high risk youth in elementary, middle and high schools, is very pleased and supportive of the Healthy Schools Act. According to a press release from the governor, the budget would increase reimbursement to schools for the expansion of access to nutritious meals by $9 million.

Representing the coalition, Marcy Wamp said they strongly support the inclusion of the Health Schools to the budget and is happy with the commitment of the governor to battle childhood obesity.

Other education initiatives contained in the executive budget include, universal Pre-kindergarten, pre-school special education, an expansion of English Language Learners program and tuition support for veterans.

At the college level, lack of state budget funding for more full time faculty and for enrollment growth would stall the state’s economic progress, according to Frederick G. Floss, acting president of United University Professions, the union representing academic and professional faculty at SUNY. UUP represents 34,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York state-operated campuses.

“We applaud the governor for recognizing the need to invest in SUNY and CUNY over the long term, but it must also do so over the short term,” Floss said. “The lack of state budget funding for more full time faculty leaves New York’s economic engine with no fuel.”

Don Feldstein, a UUP media representative, said “The long term plan involving the state lottery isn’t sufficient enough because there is no direct funding and the governor would be relying on revenues. This may take a while to put together. The need for money to hire more full time faculty is critical,” said Feldstein.

The governor is proposing privatizing all or part of the state Lottery to fund new initiatives in the SUNY system, including hiring new faculty, over the next five years.

“If we don’t address this now there will be a backslide that can undermine the quality of education. Students from community colleges won’t be able to transfer. Enrollment growth is increasing and we need to provide for students,” said Feldstein. “In order for the governor to fulfill his promise of making New York state’s education the best in the nation, we need faculty. It is unproductive to hold the process and will impede goals for better higher education.”
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