With 'Foundation Aid' review underway, Senator Bill Weber sets local discussion at Rockland CC

The Rockefeller Institute is spending the summer reviewing the state's "Foundation Aid" formula for distributing aid to school districts across New York.

None of their five public hearings, though, will be in the Lower Hudson Valley.

So state Sen. Bill Weber, R-Ramapo, is going to hold his own discussion and "testimony session" on July 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rockland Community College's Cultural Arts Theater.

"We finally have an opportunity to address the inequities in the Foundation Aid Formula," Weber said. "I strongly encourage every Rockland resident to make their voice heard and participate in this process, which will have a major impact for years to come."

The state will disperse $24.9 billion in Foundation Aid aid to New York's nearly 700 school districts this year. The pot accounts for 10.5% of the entire state budget and is larger than 23 states' entire budgets.

The state budget set aside $2 million for the Rockefeller Institute, an Albany-based think tank that is part of SUNY, to review the Foundation Aid formula and produce recommendations for improving it by early December. Decisions will be made by Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature.

The Institute held its first public hearing in Manhattan on Tuesday and will hold four more through the summer.

New Yorkers can also submit written comments and suggestions.