BILL NUMBER: S1929A
SPONSOR: WEBER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to adjusting the regional
cost index for state school aid with respect to the Hudson Valley region
 
PURPOSE:
Adjusts the regional labor force cost index for the Hudson Valley
region.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the education law to adjust the regional cost index in
the Hudson Valley.
Section 2: Provides the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Westchester and Rockland Counties pays the highest and second highest
property taxes in America, respectively. This is primarily driven by
school taxes and the increased cost of labor. Over the past two decades,
Westchester and Rockland County have been severely shortchanged by the
broken state school aid formula, including the Regional Cost Index,
which treats Westchester and Rockland County schools like upstate New
York schools, as opposed to Long Island and New York City. This bill
would change the regional cost index for the Hudson Valley to better
reflect the high cost of living and labor costs and ensure the Westches-
ter and Rockland schools receive their fair share of state school aid.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S1929: 3602 education law, 3602(4) education law
S1929A: 3602 education law, 3602(4) education law