Repealing the “Gap Elimination Adjustment“ is an important issue affecting public school funding and has been gaining strong momentum across Long Island, as a result of the efforts of several well-organized groups.
Why is the GEA having a negative impact on many public school districts throughout New York State?
New York State introduced the GEA in 2009-10 to close a $10 billion state budget deficit (or gap) by reducing the amount of aid each school district is entitled to receive. Manhasset has lost in excess of $800,000 per year for each of the past five years.
And while Gov. Cuomo has stated in his proposed 2014 budget (which will be adopted by April 1) that state aid to schools will be “increased,” the funds are not close to being restored to 2008-09 levels. Manhasset is slated to receive $20,000 (versus the previous level of over $800,000). It is like an employer saying to an employee, “We will cut your salary by 5 percent in each of the next three years, but in year four, we’ll give you a 2 percent increase.”
Meanwhile, this person’s living expenses (home, food, transportation, etc.) go up every year.
Unfunded mandates do not go away; pension and health care expenses continue to increase but must be paid, salaries that are negotiated must be honored, school buildings/facilities must be maintained and the list goes on.
Schools are faced with difficult choices and decisions: raise property taxes and/or cut staff or programs and services to students. It is imperative that the Governor restores State Aid levels back to what they had been. Challenging school districts with the Allowable tax levy cap while decreasing revenues of promised state aid is a formula for long-term disaster for students throughout New York State.
What Can You Do?
Our school district website now has information on the GEA including letters you can download, print out, sign and send to our elected officials: those that represent us in Albany.
http://www.manhasset.k12.ny.us/Budget.cfm?subpage=21955
If you agree that State Aid to public schools should be restored, then take a few minutes to review this important information and send to your elected officials today.
What is CACLA?
The Manhasset Board of Education established CACLA in the summer of 2007 to review and analyze current and proposed federal, state and local laws and regulations that have an adverse effect on the District.
CACLA also advises the Board on strategies to bring about statutory and regulatory changes that would benefit the District as a whole.
Last year (2012-13) CACLA published a series of articles on issues which greatly impact Manhasset and other public schools, primarily focused on unfunded mandates, i.e., expenses and obligations under both federal and state law. We addressed issues such as: pension benefits, special education, Wicks Law, the “Tax Cap” and the “Super Majority Vote.”
To read these articles, please go to the district website at: www.manhasset.k12.ny.us and click on “Board of Education”, then “Committees”, followed by “Legislative Affairs”.
Recently, CACLA met with [state] Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel to discuss her key concerns and issues as well as to share some of our own.
Ms. Schimel expressed many concerns about laws and mandates that govern public school districts, e.g., the allowable tax levy cap, the supermajority vote, and the Common Core standards.
She advised that a critical issue to focus on this year is repealing the “Gap Elimination Adjustment“(GEA).
The school board’s email address, should you wish to contact them is: boe@manhasset.k12.ny.us.
CACLA is a committee consisting of the following Manhasset residents:
Marianne Tomei, co-chair
Chris Roberts, co-chair
Jae Chun
John Delaney
Marlena Kern
Eric Lee
Evan Mandery
Christopher Nesterczuk
