State cuts to education and higher education are happening and will continue unless we take action now!
Not long ago, one hundred and seven New York state lawmakers signed on to a Statement of Principles committing to do everything possible to avoid devastating budget cuts...including asking billionaires and ultra-millionaires to pay a bit more.
Now, the state Division of Budget has announced a massive 20 percent cut (they call it a "withholding", but it is effectively a cut!) in school funding, including K-12 schools and commnity colleges.
That means it's time for action!
As New York heads back to school in the midst of a global pandemic, our public schools and colleges need more resources—not fewer—to keep students, educators, and school staff healthy and safe.
Our union continues to aggressively press Congress for assistance, but in the face of inaction by the federal government, we must demand that the state lawmakers who pledged to stand with us take action now.
We are asking the Legislature to pass revenue raisers—demanding that billionaires and ultra-millionaires pay their fair share—and also to call on the state to tap into the following sources of funding to stop the cuts:
- Utilizing settlement funds;
- Utilizing borrowing abilities granted by Congress; and
- Exhausting rainy day funds.
Cuts are happening, so now is the time!
The emergency has arrived. It's time to break the glass.
Please take action now!
In solidarity,
Andrew Pallotta
NYSUT President