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Tentative state budget trims spending, restores $272M in school aid
How HFM BOCES districts will benefit still to be determined
Governor Cuomo's office announced a tentative
agreement with legislative leaders late Sunday on a budget for
New York State. The $132.5 billion plan reduces spending overall
by 2 percent, but restores $272 million of the $1.5 billion cut
to education funding included in the governor's original
proposal.
How the money will be allocated, and how HFM BOCES component
districts will be affected has not yet been announced.
The restored funds for education would be distributed to
schools across the state, including New York City schools,
schools for the deaf and blind, and summer programs for special
education students.
In addition, the spending plan provides $500 million for
Governor Cuomo's proposed Performance and Efficiency Grants,
competitive programs to reward school districts that demonstrate
significant improvements in student performance or undertake
long-term structural changes to improve district efficiency.
According to the governor's office, the tentative
deal addresses a $10 million deficit without raising taxes or
borrowing money. The closed-door negotiations now make way for
legislative action on the budget bills. In past years, tentative
deals have succumbed to close scrutiny by lawmakers, lobbyists and the
media.
Friday, April 1, is the beginning of the state's
fiscal year. This weekend's tentative agreement could be finalized by the
deadline, giving New York its first on-time budget in four
years. |
