Proposed changes in state aid worry some districts: ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do’

Then they looked at school aid figures in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget released Tuesday, which would cut $780,000, or 10.6% from the category that funds the majority of school operations, and the gap nearly tripled.

“That much of a decrease is going to kill us,” said Holland Superintendent Eric Lawton, who also used the words “scary” and “devastating.” “That’s huge for us. We only have a $22 million budget.”

Holland is one of 14 districts in Erie and Niagara counties that would receive less money in foundation aid, what some call the “bread and butter” of school funding, under the governor’s proposal.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Lawton said.

Hochul received kudos three years ago when she made and kept a commitment to fully fund foundation aid. The phase-in was completed this school year.

While her current proposal would increase overall school aid by 2.7%, which includes an increase in foundation aid of 2.1%, the plan would change two things: the inflation adjustment, which is about half of what districts were expecting, and “save harmless,” which guarantees that districts would not get less than the previous year.

The proposed budget includes a cut of $1.99 million or 6.3% in foundation aid for North Tonawanda; $669,000 or 2.9% in Lake Shore; $620,000 or 6% in Iroquois; and $539,000, or 5.11% for Wilson.

Nine of the 39 districts in Erie and Niagara counties would receive less total aid under the governor’s plan, and seven would get increases of under 1%.

“I’m not feeling too well,” Lake Shore Superintendent Daniel Pacos said. “To me, this is going to turn into job cuts. We have no other way to make up that sort of shortfall.”

Alden Central School District had a plan to retain extra services it was able to…