School aid veto disappoints

Last week, the New York State Catholic Conference was informed that Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed legislation (S.6089) that would have averted cuts in state reimbursements to Catholic and other non-public schools. The cuts are based on the state changing a nearly four-decade-old formula for calculating reimbursement.

The Catholic Conference represents New York State's bishops in matters of public policy.

"The bishops of New York State are extremely disappointed in Gov. Cuomo's veto of this bipartisan bill," said James Cultrara, director for education of the Catholic Conference. "The governor's action will have serious impact on our schools and to the tuition-paying families who must absorb cuts in reimbursement aid, even as public school funding soars to new record heights every year.

"The Senate and Assembly first included this measure in both of their one-house budget proposals, but it was not enacted in the final budget. This necessitated the passage of the bill in separate legislation by both houses: in the Senate by a unanimous vote of 63-0, and in the Assembly by a vote of 133-6. This overwhelming support in the Legislature makes the Governor's action all the more disheartening to our Catholic school communities.

"We will continue our advocacy to ensure that the four-decade-old basis for reimbursement is restored, and that our schools get their fair share of reimbursement for providing state-mandated services."

(Learn more at wwww.nyscatholic.org or call the Catholic Conference at 518-434-6195.)[[In-content Ad]]