Senator Martins Announces Senate Passage of Bill to End the GEA for Long Island Schools This Year

     Senator Jack M. Martins (R-7th Senate District) announced that the New York State Senate passed legislation to completely eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) this year and end its devastating impact to Long Island schools. Senator Martins is a cosponsor of the legislation.

     “The GEA harmed students and taxpayers by robbing Long Island schools of substantial and much needed state education aid.  We’ve eliminated most of the GEA and restored funding to Long Island schools over the last several years, but Albany needs to finish the job, and it needs to happen this year.  The Assembly must join the Senate in approving this legislation to eliminate the remaining portion of the GEA and get rid of it once and for all,” said Senator Martins.           

     The GEA was first imposed on New Yorkers in 2010, before Senator Martins was elected to the Senate, by former Governor David Paterson and the New York City Democrats who controlled the Senate and Assembly at that time.  Under the GEA, hundreds of millions of dollars were taken away from school districts across Long Island.

     Since taking office, Senator Martins has fought to eliminate the GEA and deliver major funding increases to restore the cuts.  To date, the GEA cuts have been reduced by approximately 85 percent statewide.  This legislation would abolish the remaining $434 million in GEA funding cuts statewide and end the GEA entirely this year.

     The legislation has been sent to the Assembly.