EdVANTAGE Blog

In an interview with a Buffalo talk radio station this morning Governor Paterson lashed out at Council President Oliver Robinson for speaking at a news conference last week announcing a legal challenge to the Governor’s withholding of School Aid and STAR payments.  Dr. Robinson is superintendent at the Shenendehowa Central School District in Saratoga County.

Paterson contrasted Shenendehowa’s reserves with the aid withheld last week and complained, “…the cut, the delayed payments that we are imposing on them amounts to $180,000, 5 percent of the money they have so I don’t know what they are complaining about.”

In fact, at the news conference announcing the lawsuit last week, Dr. Robinson said his district could manage with a delay, but noted there are nearly 700 other districts confronting different scenarios.

But the Governor’s slip — referring to the withholding as a “cut,” points to the core problem his action poses for districts — uncertainty over whether they will ever see the money withheld last week, or the even greater sum of STAR money he plans to withhold next month.

Below is a statement issued in response to the Governor’s remarks.  A “pdf” version is available here.

UPDATE:  Here is a link to the Albany Times Union’s report on the conflict.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    December 21, 2009
CONTACT:  Robert Lowry Ÿ 518/449-1063; E-mail:  boblowry@nyscoss.org

Statement of Dr. L. Oliver Robinson
President of the NYS Council of School Superintendents
Regarding Governor Paterson’s Remarks

There are roughly 680 school districts potentially affected by Governor Paterson’s withholding of school aid and STAR payments, and the impact on various schools varies greatly. Some districts can manage a delay in revenues, but others may not be able to do so.

Speaking as the New York State Council of School Superintendents, which I serve as president, we have three primary concerns about the governor’s action:

• First, the Governor offered two very different possibilities – are these delays or are they cuts?  The Governor’s office said, “As sufficient revenue becomes available, the state will potentially pay the amounts that were delayed [December 13, 2009 news release].”  We can’t wait until April to find out whether these are delays or actual cuts – by then it would be far too late in the school year for schools and communities to react to it.
• Second, last week $146 million in school aid was withheld – either temporarily or permanently – but next month the governor intends to withhold nearly three times that sum — $436 million in STAR property tax reimbursement payments.  Managing that revenue loss will pose greater challenges for more districts.
• Third, the action sets a troubling precedent.  Aid to schools is paid according to formulas and schedules established in state law.  No governor should have the power to unilaterally amend state laws.  School districts propose budgets in good faith to our communities based on state aid  that is legally obligated by the state Legislature. If we do not challenge the governor’s actions, this precedent will be set for future unilateral withholding of state funds to any municipality. This is not a political matter but a practical matter. The law is the law.

Like the Governor, superintendents must manage budgets, balancing needs against resources.  School district leaders would be open to legislative action to help the state manage its cash flow challenges. It must be collaborative, not unilateral. School districts must be given a definite date in which aid would be paid.

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