Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) attended a press conference January 23 to address the governor’s decision not to “Hold Harmless” school district regarding foundation aid in the state budget. Gov. Hochul released her state budget proposal recently and did not keep her promise to local school districts that they would not see a decrease in their foundation aid funding from the previous year. This comes as the state has put more regulations on school districts such as last year’s mandate requiring all school buses to be electric by 2035. Hawley is frustrated that upstate rural and suburban school districts will not receive the funding they need.
“Gov. Hochul is at it again,” said Hawley. “It’s ridiculous our schools should have to take a back seat while the governor continues to hinder them with less funding and more regulations. The governor should remember her promise to ensure foundation aid for local school districts would not decrease and give them the resources they need. I cannot and will not vote for any state budget that does not put the education of our children first.”
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