Skoufis on proposed state aid cuts to education: “Over our dead bodies”

James Skoufis

Originally published in Mid Hudson News on .
Dr. Kurtis Kotes, Goshen schools superintendent, says they need proper levels of state aid (MHNN photo)

State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) and Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R, Deerpark) Friday pledged to fight Governor Hochul’s proposed cuts to education aid in the state’s 2024-25 budget.

The two lawmakers were joined by school superintendents in Orange County at Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School in Goshen.

Skoufis’ message was simple.

“Really over our dead bodies will we allow the governor’s proposal to wind up in the final budget,” he said.

Brabenec did not mince words either.

“The governor’s proposal is completely asinine. We need to make sure that we fund our students at the proper level and work with whoever we can, to make the education process here in the State of New York the very best in the nation,” he said.

The governor’s budget proposal also eliminates the state aid hold harmless provision that would ensure that no school district would receive less aid that the year before.


In the Tuexedo school district, Hochul’s budget would see a 40 percent cut in foundation aid, said Superintendent Jeff White.

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