To ensure a prosperous future for New York and the Hudson Valley, we must provide every one of our children with a quality education. Yet year after year the Governor tries to undermine our local schools with drastic budget cuts.

Last year, the Governor tried to cut school aid in the 101st Assembly District by almost $7.5 million before the Legislature passed a bipartisan budget over his vetoes that not only restored the $7.5 million, but also netted over $1.7 million more to those schools than they received the previous year. These restorations helped protect the quality of schools, while averting the largest property tax hike in state history.

This year, ignoring inflation, rising enrollments, and the need to help students meet higher standards, the Governor’s budget contains $369 million in cuts to school funding. This includes cutting aid by nearly $400,000 for the school districts located within the 101st Assembly District. The Governor’s school aid cuts again threaten to force school boards to choose between cutting programs or raising property taxes to make ends meet.

Assemblymember Kevin Cahill: fighting for our children’s future

Our schools would have $3.8 billion less if the Assembly had gone along with the Governor’s previous budget proposals. Each year, it’s the Assembly that must fight to provide schools with the resources they need to meet the high academic standards that will attract the jobs of tomorrow’s economy. Assemblymember Cahill won’t let the Governor’s wrong choices jeopardize our priorities this year.