Senator Michelle Hinchey, Senate Education Chair Shelley Mayer, and Ulster County School Superintendents Announce 2021-2022 State Budget’s Historic Funding For Education

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Today, State Senator Michelle Hinchey alongside Senate Education Chair Senator Shelley Mayer and school officials from Kingston, Highland, and New Paltz announced the historic level of education funding for Ulster County schools included in the 2021-2022 State Budget. This record funding will allow school districts to expand educational and social-emotional support for students and enable several districts to reduce local property taxes.

Senator Hinchey represents six school districts in Ulster County including Kingston, Highland, and New Paltz. The state funding Hinchey and her colleagues secured will allow Kingston to hold school taxes flat for the 2021-22 school year and enable a -1.23% decrease in the 2021 tax levy for New Paltz.

“Securing full state funding for our schools not only helps every child in our district get the equal access to a good education they deserve but also helps provide some relief to our overburdened property taxpayers,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey. “As an alumnus of the Ulster County public school system, I’m incredibly proud to have fought alongside my colleagues to secure the highest level of school aid funding ever and, for the first time, a real plan to fully phase-in Foundation Aid for our local school districts. These transformational investments mean more money directly into Ulster County classrooms, which will ensure that every child, no matter where they live or their family’s financial means, has access to a quality public education that will empower them for the future. This is a monumental step forward for our children and our communities, and I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with parents, educators, and advocates to champion equitable and robust support for our upstate schools.”

Ulster County schools will receive a record increase of $27.7 million in State Aid, bringing total investment to over $248 million--a 12.6% increase compared to last year.

The FY 2022 Budget also provides a commitment to phase in full Foundation Aid funding by 2023-2024 as a way to fulfill a landmark court order in 2006 that said the state wasn’t meeting its obligation in financing schools. Ulster County will receive an increase of over $10.5 million in Foundation Aid, with total investment coming in at over $158 million.

“It is wonderful to join Senator Hinchey and so many in the school community in Kingston today as we recognize the tremendous opportunities our recently adopted budget provides for our children,” said Senator Shelley Mayer, Chair of the Senate Education Committee. "With colleagues like Senator Hinchey, under the leadership of Majority Leader Senator Stewart-Cousins and our Assembly colleagues, we have set New York on a path to meeting its constitutional obligation to provide a sound basic education for all children, irrespective of zip code. For years, advocates, including teachers, parents and everyone in the school community, have understood that the resources school districts receive should not be subject to political calculation, but should be based upon the needs of the children and families. I am so pleased that this budget sets us on a path to fulfilling this obligation."

The senators were joined on Wednesday by Dr. Paul J. Padalino, Superintendent of the Kingston City School District, Thomas Bongiovi, Superintendent of the Highland Central School District, and Angela Urbina Medina, Superintendent of the New Paltz Central School District.

Dr. Paul J. Padalino, Superintendent of the Kingston City School District, said, “On behalf of the Kingston City School District, I want to thank Senator Hinchey for her advocacy and support of our schools and students. This funding will allow us to not only provide much needed support and programs for our students as we recover from the pandemic, but also provide relief to our community and taxpayers who are also struggling to recover. I look forward to working with Senator Hinchey and our community as we plan to expend these new resources in a way that will make the most positive impact on our students, now and over the next several years.”

Thomas Bongiovi, Superintendent of the Highland Central School District, said, “Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Senator Hinchey, the Highland Central School District was able to secure just over $1 million in increased state aid. With these increased funds, we were able to close a $1 million gap in our budget and provide some increased educational and emotional support for our student body. On behalf of the Board of Education and the entire Highland community, I sincerely thank Senator Hinchey for her unwavering support of children and public education.”

Angela Urbina Medina, Superintendent of the New Paltz Central School District, said, “We are very grateful for the support of State Senator Hinchey and her advocacy for increased funding for our school district. The fiscal support came at the perfect time for our needs as they relate to supporting our students to move forward post pandemic, are significant. Our ability to put additional supports in place would not be possible had it not been for the increase in foundation aid, CRRSA and funding from the American Rescue Plan. Her voice made such a positive impact on our district.”

Kingston schools are receiving $79,568,575 in State Aid--a 15.6% increase over last year. New Paltz is receiving $19,417,516--an increase of 23.1%. Highland is receiving $15,241,260 in State Aid--a 13.0% increase compared to last year. The total amount of state-funded School Aid coming to SD-46 schools is $173,693,285.

Foundation Aid for SD-46 schools is $110,585,845, marking an increase of over $7 million over last year. Kingston is receiving $51,122,253--an increase of 9.1%. New Paltz is receiving $9,914,467--an 8.6% increase. Highland is receiving $9,572,106--7.1% more compared to last year.

Ulster County school districts will receive over $248 million in total state-funded School Aid this year. The district-by-district breakdown for this year’s increase in School Aid is as follows:

Kingston City School District: $79,568,675 (15.6% increase)
Highland Central School District: $15,241,260 (13.0% increase)
Rondout Valley Central School District: $24,847,915 (7.8% increase)
Marlboro Central School District: $18,132,784 (16.0% increase)
New Paltz Central School District: $19,417,516 (23.1% increase)
Onteora Central School District: $10,108,029 (14.6% increase)
Saugerties Central School District: $24,509,890 (10.2% increase)
Wallkill Central School District: $31,673,004 (6.2% increase)
Ellenville Central School District: $24,622,527 (8.6% increase)

There is a $10.5 million Foundation Aid increase for Ulster County schools. The full breakdown in Foundation Aid for Ulster County is below.

Kingston City School District: $51,122,253 (9.1% increase)
Highland Central School District: $9,572,106 (7.1% increase)
Rondout Valley Central School District: $16,608,232 (3.0% increase)
Marlboro Central School District: $9,587,846 (24.1% increase)
New Paltz Central School District: $9,914,167 (8.6% increase)
Onteora Central School District: $7,366,280 (4.6% increase)
Saugerties Central School District: $16,002,807 (3.7% increase)
Wallkill Central School District: $21,325,710 (2.7% increase)
Ellenville Central School District: $17,061,668 (6.9% increase)

Education spending in the FY 2022 Budget totals $29.5 billion in state School Aid funding to school districts, an increase of $3.1 billion from last year, and provides $19.8 billion in Foundation Aid, which marks an increase of $1.4 billion from last year.

###