ALBANY, N.Y. — New York remains a leader when it comes to education spending. A report released by the Empire Center found the state spends more than $20,000 per student, nearly twice the national average.

“New York is spending a lot. At $21,200 we’re well above the national average, which is $11,000. We’re beating it by 86 percent,” said Tim Hoefer, Empire Center executive director.

The Empire Center’s report found much of that money, more than $14,000 per pupil, is driven by salaries and benefits at New York schools, and that the total cost continued to rise over the last three decades.

“If you look at the last 25 years, if you look back at 1995, New York’s spending has gone up in a 25 percent spending increase, which is double what the national has done,” Hoefer said.

Not everyone agrees with the assessment New York is spending a lot on its public schools. The Alliance for Quality Education has pushed the state to spend an extra $3.6 billion; money they say satisfies the terms of a lawsuit over school funding.

“We think there is not enough money going to our schools. There is money that is owed in foundation aid, the $3.6 billion, and that’s just to meet the constitutional requirement – the sound, basic education,” said Marina Marcou-O’Malley, operations and policy director with AQE.

The group, which is allied with teachers unions, is more concerned with poorer communities they say are unfairly impacted by the distribution of state aid.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, too, has railed against the per student cost of education funding, but has also touted his own efforts to spend more each year on schools.

School districts for the last six years have been budgeting with a cap on property tax increases in place. Supporters say that’s controlling high taxes, while opponents contend that makes it harder for schools to raise money.
© 2017 Spectrum News