Hawley: Late state budget hurts school districts in finalizing own spending plans

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) criticized the passage of New York state’s eighth budget extender, warning continued delays this far into the school year are causing unnecessary strain on local school districts that depend on timely state funding to plan for the upcoming academic year and prepare their own budgets to be voted on by New Yorkers in just a few weeks.

Hawley says he cannot ignore frustration of school districts across Genesee, Monroe and Orleans counties that are facing growing uncertainty as they attempt to finalize staffing levels, classroom resources and student programs. He stated that repeated extenders force schools to operate without the financial clarity they need, making it harder to responsibly prepare budgets that support students and taxpayers.

“Every time Albany passes another extender, local schools are left in the dust to wonder if they’ll be able to do their jobs because the Majority and governor can’t,” said Hawley. “School districts are in the process of finalizing the budget for the next school year to present to voters in May. It’s important that we have a budget to allow school districts around the state of New York to have some idea of what financing is going to come in, so the budget they present to the community is a reasonable one.”

Hawley supports passing a final budget to give schools all across New York the plan they need sooner rather than later.