Assemblywoman Sandy Galef
A message from
Assemblywoman
Sandy
GALEF


April 2005

Reform & Financing
EDUCATION

E-mail:
Address: 2 Church Street, Ossining 10562 • Phone: 914-941-1111 • Fax: 914-941-9132

Dear Constituent:

There are many changes afoot in Albany as we look at new ways of conducting the state’s business. Frankly, without your input and attention, much of this would not be happening. Foremost, we are changing the way we do our jobs. Every member must be present to vote on bills. It means that every legislator listens to discussions about bills, asks questions, and is more informed when casting a vote on legislation that impacts us all. This is a start at reforming how New York State government operates. Much more needs to be done and, as you know, I am committed to changing the process.

Next to be changed is how we deal with our state budget. There has to be a better way than twenty years of late budgets that have damaged our credit rating and hurt all who depend on state dollars, like our schools. We passed an on-time budget bill last year and expect to do so again this year in order to amend the state constitution. Then it is up to you to vote in November on a referendum to require an on-time budget.

Another change has to do with the way we vote. HAVA, the Help America Vote Act, requires that all states upgrade their voting procedures, do away with punch cards, and make it easier for the disabled to vote. The federal government has earmarked more than $200 million dollars for New York State to develop a new voting system by the 2006 elections or forfeit the dollars. The debate is going on in Albany as to the best approach to voting. Should we vote by computer, paper ballots, or an optical scanning system that combines both? There is much to do and not much time left in order to get the federal dollars and meet the deadline.

Finally, it is time to look at how we fund education. Should the state take over the total cost? Should we switch to an income tax to pay for schools vs. local real estate taxes? Do we focus on ways to cut costs without cutting quality? These and other questions will be discussed by a panel of experts at a public forum I am sponsoring Thursday evening, April 28, 7-9 p.m., Cortlandt Town Hall, 1 Heady Street, Cortlandt Manor. Come, listen, learn, and question our panel. I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef's signature
Sandy Galef
Member of the Assembly




Changing How We Fund Our Schools . . .
Property Tax or Income Tax?

A Public Forum By
Assemblywoman
Sandy Galef

Thursday, April 28, 2005
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Cortlandt Town Hall
1 Heady Street
Cortlandt Manor

Panelists:

Deborah Cunningham
Associate
New York State
Education Department

Frank Mauro
Executive Director
Fiscal Policy Institute

Edmund J. McMahon
Senior Fellow
Manhattan Institute


Education Forum Panel

Deborah Cunningham is Associate in charge of the Office of Education Management for the New York State Education Department. The Department did a study on the generation of revenues for education, reducing reliance on the property tax, using the local income tax, and comparing the system of funding education in New York with other states in the country. The study recommended an enhanced property tax circuit breaker (that became the STAR program to help elderly homeowners), a need to increase the amount of aid from the state income tax, and keeping the property tax as a stable, reliable funding source that cannot be eliminated.

Frank Mauro is Executive Director for the Fiscal Policy Institute, which for 24 years has done research and education on tax, budget, and economic related issues that affect the quality of life and economic well-being of state residents. Mauro believes that there should be a move in the direction of the income tax to fund schools, but that we cannot remove the property tax completely. Without the property tax, he said it would require a 75% hike in the state income tax to produce sufficient funding for education.

Edmund J. McMahon is Senior Fellow for Tax and Budgetary Studies at the Manhattan Institute, which for 25 years has supported and publicized research on public policy issues like taxes, welfare, crime, the legal system, urban life, race, education, etc. . . McMahon believes that we would need a very high income tax to fund schools if we switched from the real estate tax. In his opinion a progressive tax on personal income would be a disincentive to work, save, and live in New York State, especially for those at the highest income brackets who have the freedom to be more portable.

Many thanks to these organizations who are co-sponsoring the Education Forum on April 28, 7:00 p.m., at Cortlandt Town Hall:

Briarcliff Manor Schools BPTA, Carmel Schools, Lions Club of Cold Spring, American Association of University Women – Westchester, Chamber of Commerce of the Mahopacs, League of Women Voters - BOCC, Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body, Pattern For Progress Institute, Putnam Valley Middle & Elementary School PTA, Ossining Council of PTAs, Cold Spring/Garrison Chamber of Commerce, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, Westchester County Association, Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce, Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Westchester, NAACP of Peekskill, CSEA Southern Region III, Ossining Union Free School District, Putnam Valley School District, League of Women Voters of Westchester County, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), Lakeland District Parents’ Council, Lakeland High School HSA, Walter Panas High School Parent Teacher Council, Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School PTA, Lincoln-Titus Elementary School PTA, George Washington Elementary School PTA, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School PTA, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School PTA, Van Cortlandtville Elementary School PTA, Lakeland Special Education PTA, Lakeland Alternative High School, Croton Lions Club, Westchester/Putnam School Boards Association, Peekskill Council of Parent Teacher Organizations, Garrison Union Free School District, Haldane Central School District, and Blue Mountain Middle School PTA.




photo Sandy entering her paper ballot into an optical scanning machine at a demonstration in Albany.

“SCAN AND BE SURE”
A Voting Machine Campaign for New York State

My colleague Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton and I are launching the “SCAN AND BE SURE” campaign that proposes paper ballots and optical scanning machines along with a marking system for the disabled. We want this to be the voting system chosen by New York as we implement the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). We believe that having voters fill out paper ballots and scanning them through an electronic optical system is secure, simple, accessible, transparent, and economical. It does not have the heavy price tag and security problems seen in electronic voting systems.

The concern about New York’s possible adoption of an electronic voting system was brought to me by my constituents who had volunteered in other states during the last presidential election and saw the flaws in electronic voting. While researching new voting procedures, I was very impressed with a model demonstration in Albany that had paper ballots that were optically scanned. I favor this approach as the best one for our state. Please let me know what you think in the survey below.




Stopwatch

“It’s About Time”
State Budget Reform

This year got off to a good start with a bi-partisan plan to get real, effective reform to stop late budgets in New York. Senator Vincent Leibell and I introduced legislation we called the “It’s About Time” plan to change the dysfunctional budget process. One piece of legislation passed both the Assembly and the Senate that is based on our proposals and includes these measures:

  • Move the start of New York’s fiscal year from April 1 to May 1 for better revenue and spending projections;

  • Implement a contingency budget as a last resort if no spending plan is passed by May 1;

  • Require a two-year appropriation for education aid to help schools stay a step ahead for their budgetary purposes; and

  • Create a reserve fund in the state constitution to ensure sufficient funds exist for the payment of education aid in May and June of each year.

The other part of the reform plan is a constitutional amendment that forces the state to have a budget on time by May 1st. This constitutional amendment has passed the Assembly. The Senate must do the same. Then it goes to the public for a vote in November 2005. Without such a change to the constitution, it is probable that New York will continue its 20-year tradition of late budgets.

photo
Sandy and Senator Mary Lou Rath and their many colleagues in Albany presenting their bi-partisan efforts to reform how the Senate and Assembly work together.



**Click here for a printable survey**

Budget Petition and “HAVA” Voting Survey

Fill out. Mail back to me at:
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef
2 Church Street
Ossining, NY 10562-4802

Room for two respondents.

I agree with you Sandy. It’s about time to reform the state budget process and guarantee an on-time budget by changing the state constitution.




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On another issue, the Help America Vote Act, what voting system do you prefer in New York? Electronic voting, paper ballot with optical scan, other?











































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