Worried that local schools will be strapped for cash next year, Schoharie County’s state legislators hope to minimize the pain expected from Governor David Paterson’s projected school aid cuts.
But both Senator Jim Seward and Assemblyman Pete Lopez warned eliminating the cuts will be difficult, so school districts should be ready to do their part, too.
Governor Paterson last month announced a five-percent cut in aid for school districts in 2010-11. If the cuts stand, Cobleskill-Richmondville would receive $1.5 million less than this year; Middleburgh, $398,000; Schoharie, $1.1 million less; and Sharon Springs, $329,000 less.
Officials in all four districts have already talked about not compensating for the loss in aid by raising property taxes. But they’re also wondering how to make up the difference.
“The Governor’s cuts are very deep and go to the core of education,” Senator Seward said. “My advice is expect the worst, plan for the worst.”
His goal––and that of Assemblyman Lopez––is to have school districts get the same aid next year that they received this year. But even the same aid “causes districts to squeeze their budgets” because of rising costs, Senator Seward said.
And restoring all of the projected cuts is unlikely, Assemblyman Lopez added.
“I would imagine we will restore some of it,” he said. “But even that will be a challenge. Something else will have to be cut even to restore a portion.
“It’s a struggle. The state is swimming upstream in heavy water.”
Part of the Governor’s proposal is mandate relief, including a three-year moratorium on unfunded mandates that often put expensive demands on school districts.
“Does mandate relief balance the cuts?” Assemblyman Lopez asked. “I don’t know.”
While budget negotiations continue in Albany, Assemblyman Lopez said school districts must do what they can to cut costs without affecting education.
He lamented the case of one small school district that recently signed a new contract with its teachers’ union that gives the teachers four-percent raises over the next three years.
“I said to the superintendent, ‘Given the circumstances, how could you inflict such a wound on yourself and the taxpayers?’ ” Assemblyman Lopez said.
Assemblyman Lopez is working on bills that would relax laws from cost-saving shared services, such as shared administration in tiny districts, shared bus garages, shared food-buying and other areas.
The Assemblyman is not sure the bills will pass, but he believes such efforts would allow school officials to be more creative in developing cost-saving ideas.
One concern is whether local school officials would take advantage of the opportunities or continue business as usual.
“They should take advantage,” Assemblyman Lopez argued. “Here’s what’s driving all this: The money’s not there. Schools can’t continue to look to Albany or Washington.
“There’s no place to go for money. The scarcity is going to force these discussions.”
The new state budget is due April 1, and Senator Seward is optimistic it may get done by the deadline. He also realizes, however, that with money so tight, talks may drag on for weeks beyond April 1.
Schools need to know what aid they’ll receive before May budget votes, so Albany may postpone the school votes until there’s a state budget in place.
“It’s never been done before, but in a year like this, it may behoove us to do so,” Senator Seward said.