Did you ever wonder how much school districts in Erie County have lost since the great recession? WBFO's Focus on Education Reporter Eileen Buckley says the Erie County Association of School Boards just issued its Schools Reports revealing a total loss of more than $2-billion since the 2007-2008.
“Because these districts have had to either cut programs, cut staff, local tax rates have typically gone up,” said Jane Burzynski, Director of the Erie County Association of School Boards.
Reasons for the big funding losses include the infamous Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA), a Property Tax Cap and Mandate Relief.
“A small district, like North Collins for instance, might lose about $14 million, which means a lot to a small district like North Collins,” noted Burzynski.
Loses range from more than $100-million in school districts like Kenmore-Tonawanda and Frontier to more than $32-million in Akron and Alden and $51-million in Amherst.
But Burzynski tells WBFO News relief might be in sight under the proposed state budget. Both the Senate and Assembly have proposals for substantial increases in Foundation Aid for schools and ending the GEA.
“Obviously we are not a tremendously wealthy area and it’s difficult to tell communities you have to ante up even more, because it’s just reach a limit where you don’t want to do that,” said Burzynski.
Districts are still waiting to learn how that Foundation aid would be distributed. Burzynski said the message to state lawmakers is take a serious look at Mandate Relief, 'get rid' GEA and stop taking money from school districts.