Published: October 20, 2009 12:00 am      

School leaders fear aid cuts

Local school superintendents said they are hopeful state legislators can reverse some or all of proposed midyear state aid cuts to education proposed by Gov. David Paterson on Thursday.

His two-year plan to close a $5 billion state budget deficit includes a 4.5 percent cut in remaining school aid for 2009-10.

For the Oneonta City School District, this would mean a midyear cut of about $532,040 from a budget of $34.5 million, Superintendent Michael Shea said.

A loss of that size could mean cuts to staff and programs, he said. If fully implemented, it could cost seven to 12 staff positions.

He said he did not want to discuss specifics because the cuts are only proposed.

Shea has been working with administrators and the board of education to identify nonessential programs and has been in touch with legislators concerning the possible reductions.

In a press release, state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, said the types of cuts proposed by Paterson, which also include cuts to local governments, health care and higher education, would transfer more "onto the backs of taxpayers, driving more families and businesses out of the state."

Instead, he urged action on a Senate plan that calls for consolidating redundant and underutilized state agencies, cutting agency contracts and reducing non-personnel state spending. He also urged better use of federal stimulus funds.

At Unatego Central School, the proposed cut is $269,039 to a budget of $19.5 million, business administrator Nicholas Rosas said.

With the state deficit, "something will probably happen," but hopefully it will be less than Paterson is proposing and not affect this school year, he said.

To prepare for that possibility, administrators have been asked to come up with suggestions that could be reviewed later this week, he said. The cuts will be prioritized, with staff and programs having the highest priority.

Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford, said these types of midyear cuts are wrong because schools and local governments have already made their budgets based on previous state promises. They can't go back to taxpayers now to meet their obligations, he said.

In addressing the state deficit, he said, "I'm not totally convinced we have cleared out all the closets in Albany."

To avoid cuts to schools, hospitals and local governments, the Republicans have offered alternatives such as consolidating agencies and staff reductions of appointed positions, he said.