Power & Politics: A plan to fix East Ramapo schools' finances

Republican State Sen. Bill Weber is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to help the East Ramapo Central School District get out of its budget crisis. He's asking for her to call for a special legislative session before the fall to have lawmakers vote on his bill that would give the ERCSD a $20 million loan. 

 

The bill would effectively close the gap left open by the Board of Education and voters who only approved a 1% tax levy increase. The bill came after the New York State Education Department called on the district to impose an additional 4.38% tax levy hike to make up the difference. The state also said the money would need to go to public school students, who are outnumbered more than three to one by private school students in the district. The school district has been in financial disrepair for years over cuts to public school staff, programs and infrastructure. 

 

Weber called it a win-win proposal. "This bill will get the public schools the funding that they need without an interruption in any mandated services for the private schools,” he said.