State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
By Dan Murphy
In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget for New York State that cuts education funding for most Westchester school districts, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senator Shelley Mayer provided an update.
“Each year, the State Senate and the Assembly introduce and pass their own legislative responses to the Governor’s proposed budget. This week, I led the State Senate in passing our One-House budget resolution, an important step towards achieving a final budget that will make New York more affordable for hardworking families and individuals,” said Stewart-Cousins.
“This budget resolution addresses important issues, including restoring critical funding to public education, working toward our climate goals, making housing more affordable and accessible, providing tax relief to those who need it most, and enhancing vital services. Together, we are moving New York forward, and with the Governor and our partners in the Assembly, we will come together to deliver a final budget which serves New Yorkers.
I’d like to review some highlights of the One-House resolution which are particularly important to us in Westchester County.
SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS
Our One-House resolution rejects the Governor’s proposal which would slash funding to 337 school districts across the state, including 23 right here in Westchester County. Our resolution would continue to fully fund Foundation Aid, something we finally accomplished for the first time last year, under my leadership.
The resolution also provides a three percent increase in school aid, $150 million for Universal Pre-K, and $5 million to combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Asian hate,” said Stewart-Cousins
State Senator Shelley Mayer, the Chair of the Education Committee, said
“The New York State Senate’s One House budget proposal, reflects our conference’s strong commitment to public education – fully restoring Foundation Aid and providing a minimum 3% increase to every district, investing in community schools and universal school meals, expanding and improving pre-K, expanding support for afterschool and supporting schools that serve our most vulnerable children. By fully funding the Foundation Aid Formula, our budget proposal advances the goal of equity across all our schools – rural, suburban, and urban communities and New York’s cities of all sizes. The Senate’s One House budget also includes funding for a study on the Foundation Aid Formula. It is essential that we update the formula to more accurately reflect the current needs of our students and the costs our school districts incur to address those needs.
“As chair of the Senate Education Committee, I have traveled across the state and had the opportunity to see the tremendous work school districts are doing to support students and their communities, despite the enormous challenges they face. I am proud that the Senate Democratic Conference put forward a budget proposal that allows our schools to meet the complex needs of their students and communities. The One House also makes critical investments to keep students safe, by doubling security funds for non-public schools to offset the additional security costs incurred during this tumultuous time.
“As negotiations begin, I will continue to advocate for additional support for schools facing a fiscal cliff as their federal COVID relief funds expire. Districts around the state used these funds to hire social workers and school psychologists, provide additional academic support to their students, and fund other necessary programs for their communities that will be at risk without additional state support.
“I am proud to be part of a Senate majority that prioritizes our children and understands the foundational role our public schools play in our communities. As our One House budget resolution demonstrates, for the future of our state, we must put our schools and students first. I thank my colleagues and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for their shared commitment to our schools and students and I look forward to pressing for a final budget that supports our children, our schools, and all our communities.”
Budget negotiations will now begin between Governor Hochul, the Senate and Assembly. Usually those negotiations end up being resolved by “three people in a room,” which replaced the old mantra “three men in a room.”
The three people are Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
Education advocates in Westchester are fortunate to have one of the three most powerful electeds advocating for their needs.
