Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that the Assembly’s 2013-14 state budget proposal includes an $834 million increase in school aid and an increase of $334 million above the executive budget proposal (K.182).

“As a father with a daughter attending public school, I understand parents’ concerns, and like them, I want to make sure our schools are able to provide our children with a quality education,” Assemblyman Stirpe said. “The Assembly’s budget proposal would give our schools the tools they need to help put our kids on the path toward success.”

The proposal would maintain present law calculations for expense based aids, which provides an additional $228 million in the 2013-14 school year – bringing the total amount of state aid to $21.1 billion.

The Assembly’s budget proposal would:

• continue its phase-in of Foundation Aid and increases it by $208 million;
• restore $100 million to Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA);
• preserve the full $25 million pre-K grant and modifies the grant to authorize new half-day and full-day slots; and
• restore $10.22 million to teacher resource and computer training centers.

Assemblyman Stirpe has been a strong advocate for more school funding. Earlier this month, the Assemblyman sent letters to both Speaker Sheldon Silver and the governor requesting that they increase funding for Central New York schools. As local schools have exhausted their fund balances over the past three to four years, along with cutting hundreds of positions, they need help more than ever before, Assemblyman Stirpe explained.

“Over the last few years, our schools have been forced to do more with less, leaving our children to suffer the consequences,” said Assemblyman Stirpe. “It’s essential our schools have the funding they need to give our students a top-notch education. Increasing state aid to education will help to do just that, while ensuring school districts are able to comply with the 2 percent property tax cap and help ease the burden on Central New York taxpayers.”