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On June 14, Governor Cuomo promised additional funding in response to requests made by the delegation, the city, the school district, parents and students to help avoid devastating staff and program cuts.
“I'm happy Governor Cuomo and my colleagues in the State Legislature recognized the extraordinary financial circumstances the district faced this year," Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. Going forward, the sales tax increase will provide recurring revenue which is so important for the school district to have as a reliable funding resource.”
In addition, the state delegation passed two other bills requested by the city; one will allow Yonkers to increase its sales tax by a half-percent, to create an additional $15 million in funding for the school district; and another creates a hotel occupancy tax of 3 percent.
The additional $25 million to Yonkers will plug this year's gap in the education budget. Moreover, the sales tax will provide a reliable stream of revenue for the school district for years to come.
This is all on top of the $19 million increase in school aid, $20 million grant for capital projects and $2 million in bullet aid that the school district received in this year's State budget.
The legislation now goes to Governor Cuomo for his signature to become law.
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