New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says that school funding in the state could be cut in half without help from the federal government to recover from the economic losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Syracuse Post-Standard reports that Cuomo’s warning comes as federal lawmakers are considering another massive bailout package that would, in part, help small businesses.
“If we don’t get federal assistance, you’re looking at education cuts of close to 50 percent in the state of New York,” Cuomo says.
Schools aren’t the only local pubic service at risk, according to Cuomo. The state is facing a $10 billion to $15 billion shortfall in its current budget because of the economic shutdown.
Public transit systems, local police departments, fire departments and even health care systems could see their state aid plunge without more help from the top.
Cuomo says the National Governors Association, a bipartisan group of governors from across the nation, are asking for $500 billion from the federal government to address the budget shortfalls.
