ALBANY – The state budget in Albany is one step closer to being finalized.
On Thursday, the State Senate released its one-house budget resolution – which, among other things – enhances support for charter schools, provides some form of public campaign financing and modifies Governor Andrew Cuomo’s property tax freeze.
When it comes to education aid, the Senate budget added an additional $250 million for private schools through a tax credit and $217 million for public schools.
The Senate’s budget also amends Cuomo’s property tax “freeze” proposal with a mechanism called “Freeze Plus” – which would give state aid to taxing entities that stay within the state’s tax cap of 2 percent. Under the Senate plan, the taxing entity would receive funds in order to keep property taxes flat; Cuomo’s proposal would send that money to homeowner as a rebate.
The passage of one-house budgets in both the Senate and Assembly prepare the way for the final negotiation of the state budget, which is due March 31.
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