EdVANTAGE Blog

Without first concluding the state budget process for the fiscal year that started last Thursday (April 1), Senate Democrats today proposed a package of reforms to that process for the future, including moving the start of the state fiscal year to June 1.

The Council has not taken a formal position on changing the state fiscal year, but did advise Senate staff of the problems a later start could cause for schools, particularly given the voter approval process for school budgets outside the Big 5 cities. Read the rest of this entry »

The New York Times “City Room” blog had an insightful post yesterday on what went wrong for New York State’s application for funding under the federal Race to the Top initiative. Read the rest of this entry »

The Albany Times Union reports that Governor Paterson today hinted that he might seek to delay School Aid payments again in June.

Appearing on a radio program, the Governor said, “It’s likely that the state will run out of cash again in the beginning of June.”

In announcing the delay of aid payments expected last week, the Governor referred to June payments as “statutorily due” by June 1.  Accordingly, it would seem reasonable to assume that if the Governor deems it necessary to delay those payments, he will first ask the Legislature to amend the statute establishing the School Aid payment schedule.