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Closed-door budget negotiations go public June 2, 2004 In an attempt to break the impasse over school funding and comply with a court order in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno put some cards on the table May 25. Bruno, R-Rensselaer, released a plan that would increase aid to education by $6.3 billion over the next five years. The plan, which raised the ante on the governor's proposed $425 million CFE solution in January, came out the same day hundreds of New York State United Teachers members descended on the Capitol for a lobby day. The day after the Senate's announcement, the governor went beyond his own budget plan, releasing a five-year "sound, basic education" financing plan calling for $6.5 billion in state, federal and local aid. Both the Senate and governor's plans count heavily on new gambling revenue and increased federal funds to boost the current $14.5 billion education budget. The Senate plan would provide more aid to high-need districts around the state, while the governor's would channel more to New York City, the subject of the lawsuit. Union leaders were optimistic that negotiations appeared to be moving forward. "The door to a resolution of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case may finally be opening," said NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin. "The gridlock over how best to provide all of New York's school children with a sound, basic education is breaking up, and that is a hopeful sign." The state's highest court has ruled that the state must overhaul school funding by July 30 to ensure that New York City students are guaranteed a "sound, basic education" as required under the state constitution. CFE lawyers also turned up the pressure recently by asking the court to immediately appoint a special master who could end up imposing a solution. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, who has repeatedly called for more education funding, said he would release his plan the week of May 31. He is expected to call for considerably more funding, closer to the $9.5 billion that CFE studies say is needed. "We have consistently advocated for a statewide response to the CFE case," said Senate Education Committee Chairman Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie. "Obstruction and procrastination simply ensures that this issue will return to the court. It behooves nobody to permit the court to decide this issue." "We look forward to hearing the Assembly's plan and hope a statewide solution addresses the real educational needs of children in New York City and in other school districts that have traditionally been shortchanged," Lubin said. "Only two months remain before the court takes this out of the hands of the governor and Legislature. The clock is ticking." |
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