Recently, I received a letter from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office boasting the advantages of the proposed budget. While meant to inspire, it is mostly a disappointment. The "accomplishments" for which the governor wants to take credit will happen at the expense of taxpayers and children.
Misleading and incorrect is the claim this "...includes landmark reforms to give our students a top-quality education...." These proposals are unfunded or underfunded.
Gov. Cuomo has tasked school districts to find ways to make do while withholding funds and proposing additional programs. Most school districts are reducing services, laying off teachers and closing schools.
In order to take credit for envisioning educational reforms, the governor and the Legislature need to put our tax money into not only these reforms but also into programs that are already in place. Reforms without sufficient funding are shortsighted and ignorant of the true costs of a good education.
Mary Beth Arcidiacoo
Niskayuna