Pataki Asks 'Significant Changes' In Budget, But Leverage Limited

Here's the latest on what's going on in Albany on the charter cap lift.  This is completely ridiculous! "The Senate may also demand that school districts be given the power to approve any new charter schools. Such a provision could prevent the establishment of such independent schools outside New York City"

Senate Republicans are showing signs of being flexible on two key education provisions in the governor's executive budget - a lift in the cap on charter schools and the creation of a tuition tax credit - that lawmakers from both chambers have thus far resisted.

Senate Republicans indicated yesterday that they would negotiate a deal with the governor to increase the number of the charter schools in New York City by 50 and in the rest of the state by 100.The issue of charter schools "is not dead at all," the Republican majority leader of the Senate, Joseph Bruno, said. "We are very open and want to make something happen."

Mr. Bruno said the Senate had "concerns" about the tax money that public school districts lose when students transfer to charter schools. The Senate, in its talks with the governor, will probably demand transitional aid to school districts that have a higher percentage of students enrolled in charter schools. The Senate may also demand that school districts be given the power to approve any new charter schools. Such a provision could prevent the establishment of such independent schools outside New York City, where they are supported by Mayor Bloomberg.

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March 31, 2006 Edition > Section: New York > Printer-Friendly Version

Pataki Asks 'Significant Changes' In Budget, But Leverage Limited

BY JACOB GERSHMAN - Staff Reporter of the Sun
March 31, 2006
URL: http://www.nysun.com/article/30160

ALBANY - The last time Governor Pataki grumbled about a legislative budget "spending too much and reforming too little," he wielded his pen and vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars in spending.

That was two years ago. Now, as a lame duck executive with months left in office, Mr. Pataki is making similar complaints about the 2006-07 budget, which the Legislature is expected to pass on Friday. This time, the reaction from lawmakers has been a collective yawn.

With both the Senate and the Assembly appearing to be united around their on-time and record-large budget agreement and with the governor short on bargaining chips, Mr. Pataki's leverage is limited, fiscal observers and lawmakers say...