Rallying to Restore Education Funding

Keeping Current Surcharge Would Stave off Cuts

(Albany)- Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District- D/WF/I) rallied to restore proposed State budget cuts to education funding today, joining several of her Democratic colleagues and the Alliance for Quality Education at a press conference in the Capital. The Senator says the cuts, totaling over $1.5 billion, can be restored by continuing the income tax surcharge on individuals netting more than $200,000 per year, and couples netting more than $300,000 per year. The surcharge was signed into law in 2009 and is set to expire on December 31, and it would bring over $4 billion in revenue to the State this fiscal year.

“This is a responsible way to restore funding to our schools, and it will show the people of New York that education is, and always will be, one of our top priorities,” said Senator Stewart-Cousins. “These budget cuts would increase class sizes throughout the State and would cause layoffs, the elimination of programs, and create further strain on the already overextended school districts. Continuing this surcharge would allow us to maintain quality education in our schools, which is what New York’s students need and deserve.”

The Senator concluded, “We inevitably have difficult choices to make throughout the budget process, but we should not close a deficit by sacrificing the future of our kids.”

###