Senator Venditto Calls for the Elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA)

Would Return 1 Billion in lost State Aid to Schools this Year

Albany, NY- New York State Senator Michael Venditto, (R, C, I- Massapequa) joined his colleagues in the State Senate, to call for the elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). The GEA, a budget-balancing scheme imposed in 2010 at the turn of the decade.

“Since its inception, the schools in the Eight Senate District have lost over $233 Million in State School Aid. As a result of the GEA, schools have cut programs, raised taxes and put the education of our kids in jeopardy. As the son of a BOCES teacher, the husband of a teacher, and a new father, I feel it’s time to right the wrongs of irresponsible decisions and put our kids in front of cuts,” stated Senator Venditto.

Last year alone, the Senate Republicans successfully negotiated an additional $602 million – 86 percent more than the Governor proposed and nearly seven times more than what the Assembly proposed – to help schools overcome the GEA challenge. This funding represented a major step towards lessening the GEA’s burden on school budgets, but there are still more than $1 billion in GEA budget cuts anticipated for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Governor’s Executive Budget proposes an overall $1.1 billion increase in education funding over last year. However, that increase is not specifically tied to the elimination of the $1 billion needed for this year’s GEA.

Senator Venditto and his Majority Colleagues will be proposing a budget that uses the majority of the $1.1 billion increase proposed in the Executive budget – up to $600 million – to eliminate the GEA and is working to identify sources for the additional $300-$400 million.

“Our world class schools need to be fully funded, and by eliminating the GEA we will be able to provide the best opportunities for the next generation of Long Islanders,” concluded Senator Venditto.