Lt. guv to schools: 'Face fiscal reality'

New York Lt. Governor Robert Duffy applauds after introducing Gov.... — New York Lt. Governor Robert Duffy applauds after introducing Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the State of the State address in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. (Jan. 5, 2011) Credit: AP

By YANCEY ROYyancey.roy@newsday.comFebruary 15, 2011

ALBANY - It wasn't so much what Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy said at Tuesday's legislative hearing on school aid. It was that he was there at all.

In another sign that the Cuomo administration is serious about cutting aid to schools this year, Duffy made what many believe was an unprecedented appearance before a joint Senate and Assembly budget panel. Duffy, like his boss, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, said that the education budget must be cut in light of the state deficit and that school districts had plenty of options, including freezing pay and dipping into reserve funds.

"It is time for our school districts to face fiscal reality," Duffy told lawmakers and hundreds of lobbyists and advocates at packed hearing room. "Education has received record increases over the last decade and the state is at a point where we can no longer sustain that."

Cuomo has proposed cutting aid to schools by $1.5 billion (7 percent) as the state tackles a $10-billion deficit. Over the previous 10 years, education aid has grown almost 50 percent, to $20.9 billion in the current academic year.

Not all the lawmakers are happy with either the cuts to specific schools or programs, but they acknowledged that Duffy had taken a rare step in appearing and fielding questions for more than an hour.

"I think this is unprecedented," said Sen. John DeFranciso (R-Syracuse), who has been in office since 1992. At his side, Assemb. Herman "Denny" Farrell (D-Manhattan), a legislator since 1974, nodded in agreement.

Several lawmakers chided the administration for not tackling mandate relief for schools before calling for spending cuts and for a property-tax cap. But the lieutenant governor said the cap "is the one thing that will push mandate relief."