SENATOR NOZZOLIO LEADS EFFORT TO ELIMINATE GAP ELIMINATION ADJUSTMENT AND REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES IN UPSTATE

Senator Michael Nozzolio today announced that the New York State Senate has enacted legislation which, he co-sponsored, to completely eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) in the 2016-2017 school year.

 “Over the last several years, I have heard from hundreds of parents, teachers, school board members, school superintendents and administrators throughout my district, all with the same message; help us put an end to the disastrous Gap Elimination Adjustment.  For the last five years, I have been working aggressively to reduce and completely eliminate the GEA,” said Senator Nozzolio.

The GEA was an unfair state aid cut to schools that was enacted in 2010 by the New York City legislators who, at the time, controlled the New York State Senate, the State Assembly and the Governor's office. This disastrous reduction in state aid to schools was instituted in 2010 as a way to close the enormous budget gap that New York faced as a result of millions of dollars in overspending that year. When it was adopted in 2010, Senator Nozzolio spoke out against and voted against this ill-advised budget bill. From its inception, the GEA has cost school districts all across Upstate New York millions of dollars in badly needed State aid for our schools.

The GEA has forced schools to choose between cutting programs vital to educational success and raising property taxes on local residents in these already challenging economic times. This is a lose-lose proposition that puts a strain on both school districts and local taxpayers.

“Nothing is more important than our children's education,” said Senator Nozzolio. “We must continue to provide our young people with every opportunity to learn and succeed so they can compete in today's global marketplace. A great education is the key that can open the door to a bright future for our children and I am very pleased that the first major legislation enacted this year will eliminate the GEA once and for all.”

The measure awaits action by the New York State Assembly.