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Sen. Murphy Launches Petition To End School Aid Gap Elimination Adjustment

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- State Sen. Terrence Murphy (R-District 40) recently launched an online petition to end the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA).

Sen. Terrence Murphy

Sen. Terrence Murphy

Photo Credit: File

"Eliminating the GEA is common sense policy decision that I fully support," Murphy said in a statement. "We have a number of important issues facing the legislature this year but if we're serious about improving the quality of life here in New York I can think of no better investment than in our kid's education."

The GEA was first implemented in 2010 by then- Gov. David Paterson. It was introduced for the 2010-11 fiscal year as a way to help close New York’s then $10 billion budget deficit. Under the law, a portion of the funding shortfall at the state level is divided among all school districts throughout the state and reflected as a reduction in school district state aid.

Essentially, it’s a "take-back" by the state of aid originally due to school districts.

Since it was instituted, Senate Republicans say they have been leading the charge to abolish the GEA and deliver major funding increases to help mitigate its impact on education.

The GEA cuts have been reduced by 62 percent -- from a high of $2.6 billion in the 2011-2012 budget to $1 billion in the 2014-15 budget - to help restore billions of dollars in state aid to schools.

"I hope the Governor and the Assembly make the right decision on this matter which would return $1 billion to our public school districts," Murphy said in a statement. "This will have a dramatic impact on our local schools like Peekskill and Lakeland who lost more than $2 million to the GEA last year, as well as Mahopac, which lost more than $3 million. These are valuable dollars that will have an immediate impact in our schools."

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