ECB: Let's flesh out these budget figures

On Board Online • March 2, 2015

Cathy Woodruff
Senior Writer

The Educational Conference Board, a group that includes NYSSBA and other organizations representing school officials, teachers and parents, has sought clarification from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders on what baseline state aid figures school districts should use in developing their budgets.

While the governor publicly advised using a 1.7 percent projected aid increase, a figure tied to personal income changes and a statutory school aid growth cap, the ECB's Feb. 9 letter pointed to bill language that would bar any increase. The group also noted that the overall statewide increase would not assure every district a 1.7 percent increase and that the state Budget Division projected a higher growth cap of 3.9 percent in October.

The ECB's 2015-16 budget proposal recommends simultaneously shrinking the gap elimination adjustment (GEA) and growing foundation aid. Low-wealth school districts easily could be short-changed if the GEA were ended abruptly without simultaneous steps to adjust foundation aid, according to an ECB analysis.

Members of the ECB are: NYSSBA, the New York State PTA, New York State United Teachers, Conference of Big 5 Schools, School Administrators Association of New York State, the NYS Council of School Superintendents and the NYS Association of School Business Officials.