Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced the Assembly passed a 2013-14 state budget proposal that includes $21.1 billion in state aid to schools – an $834 million increase over last year’s total (E.182). The Assembly’s proposal is $334 million more than the executive budget proposal.

“The Assembly’s budget backs up my strong commitment to education,” Assemblymember Steck said. “Investing in an educated workforce is the best way to get our economy moving forward, and this additional $834 million would help give students the best education possible.”

Investing in our children’s future

The Assembly’s proposal maintains present law calculations for expense based aids, totaling an additional $228 million in the 2013-14 school year.

“Local governments are crippled by education mandates and the property tax cap,” Assemblymember Phil Steck said. “Increasing state aid to schools gives our students the education they deserve and provides financial relief to families and municipalities.”

The Assembly’s budget proposal:

• continues its phase-in of Foundation Aid and increases it by $208 million;
• restores $100 million to Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA);
• preserves the full $25 million pre-K grant and modifies the grant to authorize new half-day and full-day slots; and
• restores $10.22 million to teacher resource and computer training centers.

Higher education

The 2013-14 Assembly budget proposal would also increase support by $150 per-Full Time Equivalent (FTE) student at SUNY community colleges to $2,422. This is the second consecutive increase in community college base aid. A third round of NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grants would also receive $55 million in capital funding.

“Education was my top priority in this year’s budget,” Assemblymember Steck said. “I expressed my concern about the lack of funding and the effects that mandates are having on our schools. Though this is a good first step, I’m not going to stop fighting until our schools receive the funding they need to provide a quality education to our children.”