Breaking With Tradition, N.Y. Budget Arrives on Deadline

By Lonnie Harp

The New York legislature completed deliberations on a budget last week only one day into the state's new financial year--close enough for lawmakers to claim an on-time finish and ample enough to earn cheers from education advocates pleased with the prospect of a year without state-aid cuts.

Completion of the budget was a welcome departure from the lengthy deadlocks that in recent years have increasingly lingered past the statutory April 1 deadline and in recent months have meant sizable funding cuts as well.

Lawmakers last week approved a $56.5-billion state budget that will provide $8.55 billion for elementary and secondary schools--a $79-million increase from last year's level and a far cry from the $704 million in cuts...