Expressing outrage and promising action against the cuts in Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget in school aid and environmental protection, Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson vowed, “These cuts will not stand!”

Jacobson represents five full school districts and parts of three others. The Poughkeepsie, Highland and Beacon school districts are slated for cuts. These cuts are primarily due to the Governor’s changes in aid calculation, as well as the Governor’s proposed elimination of the “save harmless” provision, which ensures that no school district receives less Foundation Aid than it did in the previous year. Foundation Aid represents the largest share of education funding that school districts receive from the state.

“Governor Hochul is reneging on her promise to fully fund Foundation Aid to our schools,” Jacobson said. “Not only will this mean less money, but school districts will be unable to plan their budgets.”

Jacobson also noted the proposed budget’s lack of commitment to the environment. Though money is available from the Clean Water Act, the Governor’s budget would allocate just $250 million for New York’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act. Since 2019, the State has provided $500 million each year for water infrastructure, so this proposal represents a 50% decrease in funding. “Unfortunately,” Jacobson said, “the costs have not gone down.”

“This is first step in the budget dance in Albany. The Assembly and Senate majorities will produce their own budgets, and then begin negotiations with the Governor,” Jacobson continued. “I am confident that these cuts will be restored.”