Albany city lawmakers are poised to pass a $237 billion state budget on Saturday that includes an extension of Mayor Eric Adams’ oversight of New York City schools.
The largest state spending plan in New York history includes a major housing package, improved pension benefits, a crackdown on illegal pot shops and retail theft, and a deal that extends the mayor’s control over schools for two years.
This extension has some caveats for Adams.
Hizzoner would need to prove that the additional education funds were paid to city schools and not used to fill budget holes elsewhere.
“Over the next two years, New Yorkers will hold their mayor accountable, invest more money, and reduce class sizes,” State Sen. John Lew (D-Queens), head of the New York City Senate, said in a statement. We can hope that it will include an actionable plan to do so.” .
“This two-year extension provides the mayor with the accountability he has been seeking. Our agreement also includes the following: We are pleased that our capital plan includes a significant commitment to increase class size by $2 billion. ”
The American Federation of Teachers, a powerful union representing many educators in the Big Apple, sought accountability to force the city to comply with state law mandating class sizes.
The agreement also adds a new 24th member to chair the Education Policy Panel.
The mayor must choose a chair from three candidates: one chosen by the state Assembly, one chosen by the state Senate, and one chosen by the state superintendent of schools.
Lawmakers hope that adding a more independent PEP member to the committee will give it more influence.
“Good governance principles dictate that the management of New York City schools is not based on the actions of any particular mayor,” Liu added.
“The Governor and the Mayor deserve tremendous credit for brokering an agreement that extends the best governance structure for New York City public school students. The Mayor’s accountability gives parents a voice while simultaneously It delivers better results than any other option,” Crystal McQueen Taylor, Executive Director of StudentsFirstNY, said in a statement.
Most councilors, including Adams’ supporters, thought the mayor’s initiative had no chance of passing the budget.
Hochul reinstated the measure a little more than a week ago, just before announcing the interim handshake agreement.
Mr. Liu was critical of Mr. Hochul’s “11th hour” efforts to incorporate the mayor’s administrative measures into the budget.
The budget also includes adjustments to the way benefits are calculated under the Tier 6 pension scheme for civil servants.
Pensioners will now receive benefits based on the average of their last three years of service, rather than the past five years.
Critics have blasted the change, saying it would cost taxpayers $4 billion over the next few decades and cost New York City more than $10 billion. 160 million dollars next year.
“Public employee unions have stated that their ultimate goal is to have taxpayers pay for their members to retire with full pensions at age 55 and to limit or eliminate employee retirement contributions. “This would cost New York City more than $100 billion.” Taxpayers should be deeply alarmed that their elected officials have taken the first step in capitulating to these demands. ” Ken Girardin, director of research at the Empire Public Policy Center, said in a statement.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the budget this weekend.
