NEWS
State budget provides minimal restoration in aid to Cohoes schools
April 1, 2011 — The $132.5 billion state budget approved by the State Legislature this week includes total aid to the Cohoes City School District of $20,903,494 for FY2011-2012. While this amount represents a modest increase of $162,564 above the level of funding proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in his Executive Budget earlier this year, it represents a year-to-year decrease of $908,471 in state support of Cohoes schools. Last year, total state aid to Cohoes City schools was $21,811,965.
In voting on a state budget, members of the State Legislature restored a total of $230 million of the $1.5 billion statewide cuts to school aid proposed by the Governor. With the restorations, aid to schools statewide is reduced for 2011-2012 by an average of nearly 7 percent compared to last year.
According to Superintendent Bob Libby, last year's state budget included federal stimulus funds that were funneled through the state to localities, including school districts. The amount of these funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for Cohoes schools totaled more than $1.1 million. The district budgeted $611,284 to be used in the current fiscal year and $511,642 to be used in the 2011-2012 school budget year. These funds will be used to offset the $908,471 reduction in aid for next year.
Libby said the ARRA funding was a one-time
stimulus that will not reoccur. When ARRA was appropriated to the
school district in 2010-11, Foundation Aid -- the largest aid
category and one based on a district's needs and relative wealth --
was frozen at 2008-2009 levels. It remains at that level:
$14,467,010.
"While every little bit helps, when you are dealing with reduced levels of aid and escalating fixed and mandated costs, there are few options outside some of the painful and difficult cuts we are contemplating now," said Libby. "We are continuing to work to identify savings in all areas, however, without adequate state support and in the absence of real mandate relief, our options narrow.
"With the revised figures in hand, we will continue our work on crafting the 2011-2012 school budget. The Board of Education has three more budget workshops scheduled for April 4, April 12 and April 13," said Superintendent Libby. "As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend these public sessions."
