Public school finance will be one of the most hotly contested battlegrounds in New York’s coming state budget war. From last June’s preliminary report of the Governor’s Commission on Property Tax Relief (aka the Suozzi Commission), here is a reminder of one key factor driving up local school costs:
Staffing levels have increased outside of New York City, while student enrollment has declined. From 2000-01 to 2006-07, the number of teachers increased by about 5,000. Non-teaching personnel increased by about 7,400. Student population declined over this period by about 15,900 students or 0.9 percent for the period. Thus, staffing levels have increased approximately 0.6 percent a year for teachers, and 0.8 percent a year for all staff, at a time when enrollments were declining. [emphasis added]
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