(The Center Square) — New York Senate Republicans have unveiled a package of bills aimed at reversing Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed education funding changes and banning the use of public schools for housing migrants.
The ‘Save our Schools’ plan, released on Wednesday, calls for boosting state education aid to local school districts, blocking proposed changes to the state’s school funding formula, and plugging gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by diverting unspent federal emergency relief aid to support academic recovery programs.
Republican senators have also filed a proposal to ban migrant housing in K-12 schools or on school grounds statewide, according to the GOP minority caucus.
Senate Republican Minority Leader Rob Ortt said the Hochul administration’s budget calls for spending $4.3 billion over the next two years “to address the migrant crisis that was caused by open borders and sanctuary city policies supported by Democrats.”
“The Governor’s budget is yet another example of the complete disregard for New York families and taxpayers,” he said in a statement. “We are tired of misplaced priorities from Albany’s One-Party Rule, and our conference will fight to get all school districts the funding they deserve.”
Hochul’s $233 billion spending plan, released two about weeks ago, calls for increased funding for health care initiatives, education, affordability, public safety and increased state aid to address the ongoing surge of migrants.
The governor proposes a $35.3 billion school aid package with a 2.1% increase in Foundation Aid, the primary school funding formula. But Republicans argue her plans to do away with the state’s “hold harmless” provision — that ensures school districts receive no less state aid than they did the year before — could result in cuts.
The spending plan also calls for committing $2.4 billion to help tens of thousands of asylum seekers, including $500 million from the state’s reserves, or ‘rainy day’ fund. Roughly $1.1 billion will be earmarked for New York City to house migrants and provide legal assistance to apply for asylum and secure employment.
“We’re doing this not just because it’s the right thing to do for the migrants for the city of New York — we also know the companies won’t do business in New York if there are thousands of people sleeping on the streets,” Hochul said in recent remarks.
Republicans argue New York leaders have fueled the emergency with pro-immigration ‘sanctuary’ state policies and say the solution will require a bipartisan effort.
“Educating our children should be the priority, providing $2.4 billion of taxpayer money and housing illegal migrants in our schools is simply wrong,” state Sen. Alexis Weik, R-Sayville, said in a statement. “Students should not miss one day of education just because state and city officials cannot manage the self-inflicted migrant crisis.”
