When it comes to funding schools advocates and officials agree that the next several months are going to be very, very difficult.
Kevin McGowan, who is also the president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents tells Spectrum News that it’s all coming down as a one-two punch.
“Most districts are facing the reality that they will have to make cuts,” McGowan said.
Not only will allocations be flat, which will result in cuts – but quarterly adjustments may be necessary.
He said most officials would prefer to make cuts up front, and restore things as funding becomes available.
“Restoring programs mid-year is a whole lot better than cutting mid-year,” McGowan continued. “If you tell kids on a Friday that they’ll be in a different classroom on Monday, that’s not good planning.”
He says it will be the extras, which includes arts, music, and other types of programming. Poorer districts will have to make bolder, more direct cuts to the education effort.
Meanwhile, the Auburn Enlarged City School District said it would need to increase property taxes by 1.67%, which is the max under the cap. Currently, the district has a budget gap of $1.7 million, according to the Auburn Citizen.
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