January 11, 2016
ALBANY, NY – When New York State government came up with the Gap Elimination Adjustment in 2011, it was implemented by Governor David Paterson to solve the problem of a funding shortfall. The Gap Elimination Adjustment is when the state reduces what they were going to give to school districts, and it is based on state aid formulas.
State Senator Tom O’Mara (R, Big Flats) reports that he and senate Republicans staked out one their key priorities for the next state budget: the complete elimination of the damaging and highly controversial Gap Elimination Adjustment. O’Mara says that it has cost school districts locally and statewide billions of dollars in state aid over the past several years.
The state senate approved legislation (S.6377) co-sponsored by O’Mara to completely eliminate the GEA this year. “Today’s action signals that the complete elimination of the unfair and detrimental Gap Elimination Adjustment is a top priority for our local school districts and it will be a top priority for Senate Republicans throughout this year’s budget negotiations. It’s a priority I strongly share. It’s time to completely eliminate the GEA,” said O’Mara.
