Murphy sponsors legislation to end the Gap Elimination Adjustment

YORKTOWN, NY - Finally, restoring Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) is no longer just rhetoric.  Heeding the call of local school superintendents, Senator Terrence Murphy announced the introduction of legislation, Senate Bill S.6377, which would statutorily eliminate the GEA, which was brought about in 2010 to close a $10 billion state budget gap. 

In reality, the GEA has taken billions of dollars from local schools and has had a detrimental impact on local education and extracurricular programs.

"On Wednesday our conference made it perfectly clear ending the GEA was one of our top priorities for the 2016 legislative year," Murphy said.  "Actions speak louder than words and I am proud to sponsor this key piece of legislation which would eliminate the GEA and put needed dollars back in our local classrooms."

Last year, Murphy voted to restore more than $603 million to schools across New York State by reducing the GEA. 

There is currently $434 million that remains to be eliminated in the GEA, which local school superintendents have identified as one of the most impactful actions the legislature can take this year.  During Wednesday's opening day of session, Senate Republicans vowed not to vote for a budget that did not include the full elimination of the GEA.

"Through the implementation of the GEA the state basically robbed Peter to pay Paul," Murphy explained.  "Except in this case, poor financial management led to the disruption of sound education policies due to a lack of proper funding.  The Hudson Valley places great value in its local schools and I urge my colleagues to join our fight to restore the funding that belongs to them."

The GEA was passed during a time of one-party rule and when New York City politicians controlled both houses of the New York State legislature.  In addition to the GEA, 124 new taxes were approved, costing New York residents an estimated $14 billion including the hated MTA Payroll Tax.

Superintendent of Brewster Central School District Timothy Conway said, "Public education has suffered under state aid cuts from Albany for far too long.  Given this and the near-zero increase in next year's tax cap, it is critical that the entire Gap Elimination Adjustment be relegated to the history books immediately.  I thank Senator Murphy for his continued efforts and support in this endeavor and applaud his sponsorship of this important piece of legislation."

Shane McGaffey, President of the Pleasantville School Board said, "The Pleasantville School District stands with Senator Murphy in saying, 'no GEA restoration, no budget.'  There is simply no reason for withholding more than 10% of Pleasantville's educational base aid to fill a gap in the state's budget that no longer exists and hasn't for a few years."

S.6377 has bipartisan support in the New York State Senate with no Assembly sponsor to date.