By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Two members of the area's delegation to the State Assembly say Governor Pataki's proposed corporate tax cuts will leave the Buffalo School District without needed funding.
Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt say Pataki's proposed $4 billion in corporate and income tax cuts mean the Governor is ignoring a school district that is in dire need of more state funding. The Governor's school aid proposal would provide an additional $17.5 million for Buffalo schools. But Peoples says she believes the city district will actually receive less state aid.
"My recent conversations with Superintendent (James) Williams (indicate) that we're not going to be receiving more dollars. We could be receiving less," Peoples said. "That is a huge concern among legislators such as myself and for parents."
Lawmakers say Pataki continues to ignore a fiscal equity court ruling that requires the state to provide more funding to distressed school districts like Buffalo.
The Alliance for Quality Education is joining Peoples and Hoyt who are vowing to fight for school aid in the upcoming state budget process.