by
Nora Flaherty on February 5th, 2013
Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Potsdam on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013. Photo: David Sommerstein
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in Potsdam today, speaking at Clarkson University. Our very own David Sommerstein is there (we’ll hear more about the visit tomorrow morning on the 8 O’clock Hour) but he sent a pic of our esteemed governor to tide us over. David’s also tweeting @ncpr, if you’re interested!
He looks somewhat incredulous–I wonder what he’s talking about?
David’s planning on asking the governor a couple specific questions if he gets a chance. If you had the chance, what would you ask Gov. Cuomo? I’m not sure myself. Will have to do some thinking on that one. (Of course, I’d keep it polite, as I’m sure will you.)
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Un- and under-funded mandates are crippling municipal, county and school administrations. Governor Cuomo promised he’d do something about it. With his actions on the property tax cap, marriage equality and gun control, he’s proven that, whether you agree with the action or not, he can get things done when he really wants to. So I would ask him why has he refused to push any serious mandate relief. Is it because the other issues are “sexier” politically even though mandate relief is probably more important?
And don’t let him weasel out by him claiming that the minor changes he’s made are a big deal. They may end up being a big deal in 20 years, though I’m not sure about that, but have virtually zero impact now.
Agree with Brian we are getting killed from the County through our local schools with unfunded mandates at the same time they are lowering other aid from the state.
Specifically I would ask what is the state’s plan if a school can literally not pay their bills next fall, what happens in the case of a district bankruptcy?
I would have asked, Why are you lying about what your gun control bill is really aimed at? Why are you still lying? Why are you lying about the fact you are still lying????
Odd I wasn’t invited, eh?
I agree on the mandates. And I would have like to have asked him why he isn’t moving to lower the State tax on fuels. NY has the highest gas and diesel taxes in the nation I believe, about 70 and 75 cents a gallon respectively. Cut them in half and watch the economy grow!
I would ask him what his brother is up to these days. I guess he is working for CNN, he used to work for Fox I think? I would also ask if he realizes how much he sounds just like his father. Sometimes when I hear him on the radio it is like I am back in the 1980s, it is really amazing.
RC, was this an invitation only event?
So the news reported.
Looks to me like he said, don’t expect big increases in aid to your schools or big changes to the formula’s. He closed with saying that you should try to save money.
I think in general our school systems should assume what we are getting now is about it, and learn to live with it or not, if not then we are looking at going bankrupt and that may be the best strategy?
Or maybe schools should maybe look elsewhere for additional funding? Just like many private and public institutions of higher learning have had to look to donors for funds why don’t we do some development work at these lower grades. Seems like schools don’t try this really at all. Like you say Mervel at some point you have to take what you can get from the state and figure out how to make up the difference yourself.
That would be a true cultural shift for school systems, but I agree.
If we want good schools maybe the wealthy in our communities are going to have to step up and help with them.
But if you notice they seem to only have one strategy, go back to the state over and over or cut positions and maybe raise property taxes. Finally we see them talking about consolidation which I think in the end will be what many are going to do. Tiny schools just are not viable as public institutions. I think they are great by the way, but it is tough to ask the state to support schools that cost between 20-30k per child attending. We could simply send them all downstate to a private boarding school for those prices.
Actually, other than the Mohawk Valley, the North Country’s average per student spending is less than any other region in the state according to the Citizen’s Budget Commission in a 2012 report. We have the lowest paid teachers in the state (other than Mohawk Valley) and we’re very frugal in other areas, as well. We are mid range in per-student support services.
Take a look:
http://www.cbcny.org/cbc-blogs/blogs/how-spending-pupil-new-york-state-varies-among-districts-interactive-map
The Adirondack region and Downstate spend the most. Adk spending is probably explained by high property values and scattered winter populations, downstate – well, that’s where the money all is. Cuomo’s accusation that we North Country residents are spending too much to educate our children just doesn’t hold water.
The unemployment rate has rose under your watch. What are you going to do to help the unemployed obtain jobs?
Mervel says:
February 6, 2013 at 2:20 pm
“If we want good schools maybe the wealthy in our communities are going to have to step up and help with them.”
Pardon me, but looking around me I don’t see any Trumps, Kennedys, Clintons or Spielbergs living in my area. Wealthy in my area is anyone bringing home more than $75K or so. Just where are we supposed to find all these wealthy people Mervel?
It seems to me the answer lays in fighting unfunded mandates, demanding teachers start paying for health insurance like the rest of us, ending the practice on a new school building project every other year and cutting non-essentails lie sports, art and possibly some music. The landowners can’t foot the bill anymore.
“If we want good schools maybe the wealthy in our communities are going to have to step up and help with them.”
I’ve got bad news for you, mervel, the “wealthy” are already subsidizing our community schools. People without children, second home owners and other landowners (especially commercial properties)do not use the schools but have been paying all along. No complaints either, until recently, when the “soak the rich” mentality began to take hold. Take a look at your local assessments and see if there isn’t a difference between “local” and “vacation” homes and “new” vs. “old” homes. It’s amazing to see how some homes decline in value while others do not.
Mervel: Emperor Andrew has already answered your question. He’s said that he has to deal with mandates from DC he doesn’t like so schools should just STFU and deal with it.