Governor files response to lawsuit on school funding delays
Gov. David Paterson filed a response today to a lawsuit filed by education groups that claim it’s unconstitutional for him to withhold $582 million in funding for school districts.
The governor said his actions are necessary to keep New York solvent, and he accused the plaintiffs of trying to put their own interests before other entities whose state aid is being delayed, including municipalities and service providers for the state.
“I will not be intimidated in this process,” he told reporters this morning. “I absolutely will not shirk my responsibility and I absolutely will not allow those special interests to ruin the state’s credit and the state’s financial position based on what they see as some sacred privileges that they have.”
The education groups filed a lawsuit a week ago, following the governor’s announcement he would withhold the money. Of the $582 million, $146 million is in school aid, a 10 percent cut. The other $436 million is to reimburse districts for money they didn’t get because of the state’s school tax-relief program (STAR), which provides exemptions to homeowners. Losing the money is a 19 percent reduction.
The New York State United Teachers union, the state School Boards Association, the Council of School Superintendents and the School Administrators Association filed the lawsuit in New York Supreme Court, claiming the withholding violates the state constitution’s “separation of powers” doctrine and its guarantee of a “sound, basic education” for all students.
“He’s on one track and that’s slash and burn, and the rhetoric saying that we’re looking to see other people hurt is disgraceful,” Alan Lubin, NYSUT’s executive vice president, said today.
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