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Exec budget is 'a better beginning'
Feburary 3, 2005 Cecelia McCall and William Scheuerman The budget battle is beginning on much higher ground after Gov. Pataki's proposal calls for a $526.2 million boost in education aid — actually increasing public higher ed funding after many years of damaging cuts. "With a $4.2 billion deficit looming, the governor's emphasis on education makes a very strong statement: Education is the state's top priority," said New York State United Teachers President Tom Hobart. "It's the largest overall aid increase ever recommended by a governor." Ordinarily, the executive budget eliminates or cuts funding for many needed education programs, with the governor leaving it to the Legislature to reinstate them. This year, the governor fully funded virtually all NYSUT-backed programs including teacher centers ($31 million); the Teacher Mentor-Intern Program ($6 million); Teacher Support Aid ($67.5 million) and Teachers of Tomorrow ($20 million). He also funded many legislative initiatives he's tried to cut in previous years, such as universal pre-K ($202 million) and early class-size reduction aid ($138 million). "Of course, the $526.2 million state aid increase is still far short of what districts need to keep up with inflation and for the state to meet the requirements of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court decision demanding more aid for schools," said NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin. "We'll be lobbying as aggressively as ever to keep our state leaders from losing sight of what's important." The governor proposed a $526 million, 3.4 percent overall increase in school aid, bringing the total education aid package for 2005-06 to $15.9 billion out of the total proposed $105.5 billion state budget. The $526 million increase includes $201 million in traditional aid and $325 million in new "Sound Basic Education Aid" targeted to high-need districts. The Educational Conference Board — a coalition of eight education groups including NYSUT — estimated that state aid would need to rise by at least $743 million just to maintain existing programs without overburdening local taxpayers. The state Board of Regents has recommended an increase of at least $1.5 billion. About 86 percent of the SBE aid would be targeted to the state's 207 high-need districts, including a broad spectrum of small city and rural districts. Revenues from expansion of Video Lottery Terminals would be used to support the SBE aid. Also, the governor proposed an independent Office of Education Accountability and Efficiency; creating a new process to deal with teachers charged with incompetence; authorizing mayors in the large cities to appoint school board members; and enacting changes to encourage participation in school budget voting. Going to bat for BOCES One big trouble spot in K-12 funding is BOCES aid, Lubin noted. The governor's plan would cut BOCES aid by $20 million, or about 4 percent. It would eliminate aid for "routine administrative services" and scrutinize BOCES contracts by comparing their contracts to existing state contract prices available through the state Office of General Services. It would also encourage school districts to participate in shared services arrangements with counties and other local government agencies rather than BOCES. "Unfortunately, he's targeted BOCES yet again," Lubin said. "We've beaten back proposed cuts to BOCES as high as 25 percent. Our friends in the Legislature know how valuable BOCES is." Higher education While the total funding for the State and City University would increase, additional state aid would depend upon tuition increases as high as $500. The budget calls for empowering trustees to raise tuition when the funding from the state is not sufficient to cover the cost of collective bargaining and other mandatory costs. Pataki also wants to allow the trustees at SUNY and CUNY to set differential tuition rates for different campuses. "While the governor reports an increased commitment to higher ed funding, state aid would actually decline for SUNY and only increase slightly for CUNY," Lubin said. "It's ironic how the governor's proposal calls for a new program to accelerate completion time for students, while providing no additional funding for full-time faculty that would help make this happen." Students at both SUNY and CUNY have found it increasingly difficult to earn degrees in four years because required class sections are simply not available. Under Pataki's plan, the state would give bonuses to colleges whose students finish "on time." "We're concerned that much of the increases are supported by a proposed tuition hike instead of additional public funding, and we're concerned the uncertainty of the funding source could lead to layoffs," said William Scheuerman, president of United University Professions, representing academic and professional faculty at SUNY campuses. UUP is concerned about the proposal to cut Medicaid funding to the SUNY hospitals and the governor's plan to privatize them. In addition, the governor's budget calls for hitting the SUNY health care centers with a tax of 0.7 percent to be assessed on hospital revenues. Community college funding is another dilemma, Lubin said. State aid for both SUNY and CUNY community colleges is continued at the current year's reduced amount of $2,235 per full-time equivalent student. This aid amount is a cut of $65 per FTE from 2003-04. "Once again the governor has ignored the needs of community colleges and community college students," said Ellen Schuler Mauk, president of the Faculty Association at Suffolk Community College . "The state is falling further and further behind in its commitment to community colleges. Because community colleges are open enrollment, the state should be contributing 40 percent of operating expenses, but they're barely covering 30 percent. The counties and student tuition must make up the shortfall." Schuler Mauk, who represents community colleges on NYSUT's Board of Directors, said students are covering 40 percent. "The bulk of our students are self-supporting and work to go to school ... It's going to push them out of the market." Pataki's plan proposes deep cuts to opportunity programs for economically disadvantaged students, noted Cecelia McCall of the Professional Staff Congress, representing faculty and staff at CUNY campuses. She said PSC will push for more money for child care programs for faculty and staff. "We're trying to recruit and retain new, young faculty," McCall said. "Child care needs to be a priority." PSC worries the program to graduate more students on time could influence college admissions. "Will this change emphasis on admission, so that schools pick only students who can attend full-time and be able to finish in four years?" said McCall. The governor's plan is the beginning in a long process for a state budget supposed to be enacted by April 1. "This year, with an increase of public pressure to reform state government and conform with the CFE decision, there is an even greater demand on the Legislature to meet the April 1 deadline," said NYSUT Vice President Dick Iannuzzi. Union lobby days will begin in February, with higher ed activists visiting Albany legislators' offices Feb. 28 and March 1. On March 8, representatives from the state's 38 BOCES will visit Albany for a statewide BOCES lobby day. On March 14-15, unionists from around the state will head to the Capitol for NYSUT's Committee of 100. — Sylvia Saunders |
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