A Failed Plan for School Funding by State Senator Kevin Parker
Brooklyn, NY -- Despite Governor Pataki's recent call for an Extraordinary Session to address the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, the economic and academic future of our children remains uncertain.
In fact, there was nothing extraordinary about it. The modified version of the governor's bill, as amended by the Senate Majority, was a poor attempt to address many of the issues at the core of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) lawsuit. The Republican measure -- which did not have the support of the Assembly -- provides no new resources, no details on funding formulas and no spending plan for the coming 2004-2005 school year. It would take four years before schools would notice any relief. Even then, the financial impact of this bill would be nothing more than what schools would receive anyway, factoring in inflation and following current annual school funding growth trends.
It's clear, I could not, in good conscience, vote for this bill as its passage would merely maintain the status quo. I stood on the Senate floor in Albany, alongside my Senate Democratic colleagues, and we collectively voted against this measure in the name of every child that deserves the opportunity to build a bright future for themselves, when given the right tools.
We all know it's the State's responsibility to come up with a solution on CFE and we embraced the opportunity to do so. What the Republicans put forth this past week was not a solution. In addition to not fixing the problem -- either now or in the future -- their plan would have relied upon unpromised and unlikely increases in Federal Aid, as well as uncertain gambling revenue from Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs). What's worse, it would have unfairly imposed new debt and increased taxes on New York City residents. It has been well documented that New York City taxpayers have for years paid much more into the State "pot" than we receive in return. That's the crux of the whole CFE issue -- getting our fair share for our children.
Incidentally, the Senate Democratic Conference came up with a real plan, offering a real solution for CFE last March. Our proposal would provide $1 billion for the 2004-2005 school year to immediately address the CFE lawsuit, with the program growing to $10 billion within five years to help hire the best and brightest teachers, reduce class size, and put computers and new technologies in the classrooms to prepare our children for a 21st Century economy.
I am also supporting a $20 billion School and Library Capital Construction program to provide a safe and positive environment for learning by rebuilding and refurbishing our crumbling schools. The Senate Democrats' plan would also restore the governor's cuts in school aid formulas, grant programs, vocational education, and Universal Pre-K and Full Day Kindergarten programs.
Further, this massive investment in our public schools would be paid for by the state, not by passing the burden onto local taxpayers or hoping for a federal government bail out. Our conference understands that we need a steady and reliable funding source. Being forced to rely on the governor's plan to use a gambling revenue source that has yet to even be put in place is irresponsible.
While I can, on some levels, appreciate that the governor made an attempt to avoid a court appointed Special Master to determine the final school spending plan, I question where he has been for the last year, as we have tried to come to terms with ensuring that every child in this state has a sound basic, education. He has not shown any sign of direction and leadership on the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision since the court ordered a deadline 13 months ago. This last-ditch effort on his part was nothing but a veiled attempt at looking like a leader, as opposed to truly acting like one.
Posted by:
Gail Robinson
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A Failed Plan for School Funding by State Senator Kevin Parker
(Jul 27, 2004)
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