NEWS
Cohoes Schools Would Continue to Lose State Aid Under Governor’s Proposed Budget
Feb. 4, 2011 — Cohoes schools stand to lose nearly $1.1 million in
state aid over last year’s funding levels if Governor Andrew Cuomo’s
proposed 2011-2012 Executive Budget – presented earlier this week –
is adopted by the State Legislature. The proposed reduction in aid
to Cohoes City schools is part of an overall $1.5 billion – or 7.3
percent - cut in aid to schools statewide called for by the
Governor.
Coupled with escalating, mandated costs of salaries, health insurance, and pension contributions, this level of reduced state aid means the school district faces an anticipated budget deficit of approximately $2.5 million for the coming school year. Proposals that would relieve the school district of any of these mandated costs were not included in the Governor’s budget presentation. Gov. Cuomo’s appointed Mandate Relief Redesign Team has until March 1 to submit recommendations for any mandate relief proposals that could then be added to the proposed Executive Budget.
Superintendent Robert Libby said the district is in the early stages of crafting the budget for next year and noted that projections and any reductions being considered to help close the gap will be refined in the coming weeks.
“More than ever we will need to work together, in the best interests of this community, as we confront these challenges,” said Superintendent Libby. “I think Tim Kremer, Executive Director of the New York State School Boards Association said it best when he noted ‘school boards, employee bargaining units and administrators will have to work together to manage this fiscal crisis…They will need significant help from state lawmakers in the form of serious reforms to state laws that drive up school district costs.”
Superintendent Libby said a series of Board of Education budget workshops are slated for February through April at Cohoes Middle School to review budget priorities and encourage community dialogue. On February 3, principals from the district's three elementary schools outlined their priorities and some of their projections for next year for members of the Board, staff, and community members. View a schedule of upcoming workshops here.
Last year, reductions in state aid were offset, in part, by a one-time injection of federal stimulus aid. This appropriation, which totaled $1,122,926, and was included in the final FY2010-2011 state budget, will not re-occur in FY2011-12. In planning for this year, Cohoes chose to have a portion of that money allocated for the 2011-2012 school year. That amount, $511,642 will be available to help offset the projected $2.5 million deficit this year.
“The process will no doubt bring some level of painful decision-making,” said Libby. “That’s why I encourage everyone to take part in this year’s budget discussions, as they could turn out to be the most important we’ve ever had here in Cohoes.”
View a complete look at Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2011-2012 Executive Budget.
