Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell. D-Theresa, says the state Assembly's budget proposal increases state funding for North Country schools and helps alleviate tax burdens for property owners.
The Assembly budget proposal also includes a $1.7 billion investment in higher education and freezes tuition at the State University of New York for two years.
Assemblywoman Russell said school superintendents and educators from throughout the district had called for additional funding in foundation aid from the governor's proposal.
"Our schools have been shortchanged for years and need increased support to stop having to make harmful cuts and keep property taxes down," Foundation aid drives funding to our rural school districts with the highest needs," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"I will continue fighting for our students and for the educators working so hard to provide them with a high quality education.
The Assembly proposal includes:
• An increase of $1.1 billion for Foundation Aid, which is $875 million over the governor's proposal.
• $434 million to fully restore the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA).
• $5 million for additional library aid above the $91.6 million included in the governor's budget.
• $10 million in capital support for public libraries.
"Increasing state funding for north country schools, as well as other schools across the state, is not only fair, it's the right thing to do. This Assembly budget proposal will help stabilize our schools so they can give our students the quality education they deserve," Assemblywoman Russell said.
The plan also fully restoresfor Teacher Resources and Computer Training Centers to $14.3 million.
"Providing teachers with the tools and training they need is critical for teachers to effectively do their jobs in the 21st Century and that is why the Assembly is rejecting the governor's proposed cuts to this program," she noted.
She said students at SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton and Jefferson Community College - as well as the other colleges and universities in the SUNY system - would also benefit from the funding included in the Assembly proposal.
"At a same time that a college degree is almost a necessity for a 21st Century job, more and more young people are being priced out of higher education. Students are already coming out of college saddled with years of debt. That's no way to start out," Assemblywoman Russell said.
In addition to freezing tuition, the Assembly's budget proposes more than $819 million in capital assistance and increases the base operating aid to community colleges as well as grant awards under the tuition assistance program (TAP).