White Plains CitizeNetReporter - <i>Adam In Albany:</i> Westchester Bears Burden of Governor's Education Cuts

WPCNR'S ADAM-IN-ALBANY. By New York State Assemblyman Adam Bradley of the 89th Assembly District. January 31, 2003: Assemblyman Adam Bradley of White Plains today criticised the governer's proposed cuts to education saying it would reduce academic standards, increase class sizes and boost property taxes. Here is Assemblyman Bradley's commentary in which he details exactly how much towns from the 89th from Katonah to White Plains would be cut:

The state must make some tough choices to solve our budget problems this year, but cutting education is absolutely the wrong choice. The governor’s budget ax strikes a serious blow to education this year that could adversely affect our children for years to come.

The governor’s 2003-04 budget plan calls for a $4.4 million reduction in state aid to local elementary and secondary schools in the 89th District. Without adequate state aid, our schools will be forced to cut essential educational programs, lay off teachers and increase local school taxes.

School districts in my Assembly district would be hit particularly hard by the governor’s cuts, including:

·White Plains City School District would lose nearly $1.7 million;

· Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District would lose nearly $816,000;

· Bryam Hills Central School District would lose nearly $406,000;

· Chappaqua Central School District would lose over $372,000;

· Harrison Central School District would lose nearly $357,000;

· Valhalla Union Free School District would lose over $190,000.

Hidden Tax Increase

The governor’s budget is really a hidden tax increase. He promised his budget wouldn’t create any new ‘job-killing’ taxes, but that’s exactly what it does. Not only will the governor’s education-killing cuts cheat our children of a quality education, they’ll slap local homeowners with much higher property taxes because school districts will have to raise money to make up their revenue losses.

I also take issue with the governor’s proposed $1,200 SUNY tuition increase that will force the typical SUNY Purchase undergrad to pay $6,113 a year in tuition and mandatory fees, and his plan to cut the Tuition Assistance Program by 33 percent. In addition, he’s cutting our community colleges’ base aid by 15 percent, or $345 for each student – which will also drive up tuition costs and local taxes on homeowners and businesses.

Anti-Education

The governor’s proposals are simply anti-education. Raising SUNY tuition by $1,200 and cutting tuition assistance is cynical and mean-spirited. It only hurts middle- and lower-income families, and students who are least able to afford the price.

These difficult fiscal times require some tough choices, the governor made the wrong choices — preventing students from obtaining a quality, affordable education is shortsighted. My commitment to education is to prepare students for the future and provide them with the tools necessary to promote economic growth, not to take these tools away from them.

Note: Adam In Albany is Assemblyman Adam Bradley's weekly column on events in the state capitol. He represents Katonah, Pound Ridge, Harrison, Valhalla, Chappaqua, and White Plains. To read the 2003-2004 Department of the Budget proposal, go to http://www.budget.state.ny.us/pubs/executive/fy0304littlebook/


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