Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) has introduced her first piece of legislation in the Assembly. Her bill would eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) rate for 2015-16 and thereafter and provide school districts with the full amount of aid generated by all existing budget funding formulas (A.2271).

“The GEA has hurt our students, school districts and taxpayers, and in 2014 alone, districts I represent lost out on over $18 million in promised aid,” said Assemblywoman Woerner. “The state has been slowly reducing the amount owed to school districts but enough is enough, it’s time we completely eliminate the GEA.”

Schools within the 113th Assembly District are still owed:

• Argyle: $648,317
• Ballston Spa: $2,282,754
• Cambridge: $891,670
• Fort Ann: $375,120
• Fort Edward: $188,127
• Greenwich: $817,471
• Hartford: $521,936
• Hudson Falls: $396,147
• Mechanicville: $730,032
• S. Glens Falls: $1,987,816
• Salem: $635,904
• Saratoga Springs: $3,342,185
• Schuylerville: $966,857
• Shenendehowa: $4,174,124
• Stillwater: $900,395

“Since its implementation, the Gap Elimination Adjustment has had a devastating effect on the quality of education that the Hartford Central School District is able to offer our students,” said Andrew Cook, Superintendent of Schools, Hartford Central School District. “Since 2010, the students of Hartford have been withheld over $3.9 million. This reduction in aid has had a direct consequence in the district abolishing opportunities for extracurricular activities, reducing faculty and staff, and eliminating academic programs such as Business and Home and Careers.”

“South Glens Falls schools have lost $15.9 million in state aid to the GEA since 2010, said Michael Patton, Superintendent of Schools, South Glens Falls Central School District. “Public schools need the resources necessary to provide a high quality education that prepares students for college, employment, and success. It’s time we make education a priority and focus on equitable and adequate school funding.”

“The GEA has resulted in a loss of $2.3 million, said Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Ballston Spa School District. “Any effort to fund the substantial loss of aid over several years will offset the tax burden on our local school community.”

The Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) was first introduced for the 2010-11 fiscal year as a way to help close New York’s then $10 billion budget deficit. Under the legislation, a portion of the state’s funding shortfall is divided among all the school districts in New York based on a formula, and each district’s state aid is then reduced accordingly. The GEA has remained in effect to help the state address its budget challenges and priorities other than education. Statewide, school districts are still owed over $1 billion in promised state aid. The Gap Elimination Adjustment has unfairly burdened school districts and taxpayers throughout the state, increasing the dependence on local property taxes and taxpayers to make up the difference

“It is our responsibility to ensure our students receive a strong education that will enable them to succeed in the global economy. That begins with fully funding our schools and eliminating the GEA,” concluded Woerner.