ALBANY, N.Y. (September 16, 2020) — In response to comments made by state Budget Director Robert Mujica in an op-ed to the Times Union, public education advocacy organization the Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement:
“Governor Cuomo has been threatening public schools with a 20 percent cut to state funding for over four months. School districts cannot plan out their annual budgets with hope and prayers. Governor Cuomo and the Division of Budget need to be absolutely transparent and forthcoming with information to school districts. Even the most recent statement by Budget Director Mujica offers no guarantees or assurances for school leaders, and shows little regard for the stability and wellbeing of our children in these uncertain times,” said Jasmine Gripper, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education.
“Governor Cuomo has made the choice to thrust financial uncertainty upon public schools, while refusing to tax the wealthy to resolve the state’s cash flow issue. We need a clear plan from the Executive on how New York state will balance the budget without sacrificing the educational needs of New York’s Black, Brown and low-income students.”