L-R Elizabeth Janocha, Deputy Finance Commissioner; John Liszewski, Finance Commissioner; Mayor Spano, Yonkers Public Schools Superintendent Anibál Soler; Budget Director, John Jacobson
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano will travel to Albany today to testify before the State Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, advocating for critical funding priorities impacting the City of Yonkers in the proposed 2026–2027 Executive Budget.
“When cities are forced to absorb growing state mandates without sufficient funding, education is often the first place that feels the impact,” said Mayor Spano. “We have an obligation to work together as partners. I look forward to continuing that partnership with the Legislature and Governor Hochul to deliver a responsible budget that protects education, supports municipalities, and respects our taxpayers.”
Mayor Spano will call on state lawmakers to take immediate action to protect public education and provide real relief to local taxpayers. Specifically, he is urging the Legislature to:
- Fix the Foundation Aid formula by adopting the Rockefeller Institute’s Comparable Wage Index for Teachers (CWIFT), so education funding reflects the true cost of educating students in high-cost regions like Yonkers.
- Increase state support for special education and transportation, including updating reimbursement formulas to keep pace with rising tuition, mandated services, and largely uncontrollable special education transportation costs.
- Restore and grow municipal aid (AIM) to help cities meet rising costs and unfunded mandates without further burdening local taxpayers or putting education at risk.
Mayor Spano will highlight Yonkers’ extraordinary local commitment to its schools, including a $298 million annual contribution, more than sister cities Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo combined, while noting that the City has been forced to break the tax cap, raise sales taxes, and absorb school deficits.
Mayor Spano’s testimony underscores Yonkers’ continued advocacy for a fair and responsible state budget that supports local communities across New York.
Live testimony can be viewed here.
