Press Release (12:43 a.m.)
ALBANY – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I- 57th District) has announced that schools in her district will receive a record amount of aid in the state budget, totaling $660,009,425 or a 3 percent increase. This amount reflects a $19.3 million increase from last year’s budget.
Senator Young said the enacted budget provides record funding for New York State schools of $26.7 billion. The overall, year-to-year increase in school aid is over $1 billion and double the increase of virtually every other area of the budget.
“There is no greater investment in our future than support for education. Giving our children the best education possible empowers them to achieve and contribute in ways that enrich their lives and the success of our state. That is why increasing support for schools in my district has consistently been a top priority. This year was no exception.”
“Even in this difficult budget year, Senate Republicans fought hard to secure another significant increase in school aid because we know that when it comes to our children’s future we can’t compromise. The Senate advanced an ambitious education agenda that drove substantial investments into flexible Foundation Aid, boosting resources for high-need districts such as mine. The Senate also successfully fought the Executive's proposal to cut transportation aid, BOCES aid, building aid and summer school special education. Every district I represent will receive a Foundation Aid increase of at least 1.9 percent.
“Children in our rural schools deserve the same educational opportunities and resources that larger suburban districts offer. The funding in this budget will help make further strides in closing that gap. Our children are our future and they must receive the best learning opportunities possible,” said Senator Young.
