Governor Paterson reportedly will propose a mid-year cut in state aid to public schools as part of a $2 billion budget reduction package to be released tomorrow.

Here’s a chart that provides some perspective on the budgetary debate ahead:

schoolaid-4550717
State aid to K-12 schools has risen 76% in the last 10 years, including 29% in the last three years. The current-law baseline — now obviously unaffordable — would require a further 29% hike over the next three years. Enrollment during this period has decreased slightly, and is projected to remain flat over the next three years.
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