“The Gap Elimination Adjustment is crippling our upstate schools and I’m urging the governor to use his 21-day amendments to eliminate this unfair burden. Ending the GEA will give immediate relief to our upstate schools and provide our children with a brighter future,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “Public education has been one of my top priorities since taking office and I remain committed to fighting for students and teachers.”

In December, Santabarbara joined parents and educators to call for an end to the GEA, which has cost local schools nearly $100 million since it was initiated and more than $8 million in the current budget. He proposed using a portion of the state’s financial settlement windfall to immediately eliminate the GEA and provide meaningful relief to low-wealth and small school districts, which are disproportionately burdened by the GEA.

Additionally, Santabarbara is the co-sponsor of legislation that would end the GEA immediately.

Santabarbara is also pushing to prioritize public schools in the state budget and is calling on the state Division of Budget to release state aid figures for local school districts so they can accurately plan their budgets.