Repeal the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA)

The Issue

Over the past three years, the GEA has reduced state aid to Long Island schools by close to $1 billion.  Shelter Island UFSD has lost more than $300,000.00 in the last three school years.  The loss of state aid threatens the district's ability to deliver a first-class education to students and increases the burden on the local taxpayer.

The time to work together on behalf of our public schools by eliminating the GEA is now!  Signing the petition will send a direct email to our elected officials, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Ken LaValle, and Assembly Fred Thiele.

 

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Shelter Island UFSDPetition Starter
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This petition had 29 supporters

The Issue

Over the past three years, the GEA has reduced state aid to Long Island schools by close to $1 billion.  Shelter Island UFSD has lost more than $300,000.00 in the last three school years.  The loss of state aid threatens the district's ability to deliver a first-class education to students and increases the burden on the local taxpayer.

The time to work together on behalf of our public schools by eliminating the GEA is now!  Signing the petition will send a direct email to our elected officials, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Ken LaValle, and Assembly Fred Thiele.

 

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Shelter Island UFSDPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Fred Thiele
Fred Thiele
Former New York State Assembly - District 1
Responded
“Dear Constituent: I am writing in response to your recent letter in reference to repealing the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) in the 2014-2015 school year. Thank you for taking the time to write me on this matter. Please know that I am supportive of repealing the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). As you may know, the Governor has proposed reducing the GEA by $323 million in 2014. I however, just introduced legislation (A.8712/S.6539) which would eliminate the GEA for fiscally distressed school districts and reduce the GEA for all other districts by 50% in 2014, completely phase out the GEA for the non-stressed school districts over the next two years, and fully eliminate the GEA in 2015. My proposal would reduce the GEA by $950 million in 2014 or $627 million more than the Governor’s school aid proposal. I believe that providing an adequate level of funding for education is one of the most important obligations of State government. At a time when the State has the dual goals of freezing property taxes and improving the quality of education, it is imperative that we provide a level of state funding that is equal to the task. The elimination of the GEA is the best method of insuring both of these goals. With the elimination of the budget deficit and the projection of a $2 billion surplus, now is the time to fully fund our schools. As always, thank you for your support. Please do not hesitate to contact me should I be of any further assistance to you on this or any other State matter. Sincerely yours, Fred W. Thiele, Jr. Member of Assembly FWT:LS ”
Kenneth P. La Valle
Kenneth P. La Valle
Former State Senate - New York-1
Andrew M. Cuomo
Andrew M. Cuomo
Former Governor - New York

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Petition created on February 11, 2014