Pataki Vetoes Funding for School Construction

By Caroline Hendrie

No sooner had the Republican governor announced the cuts on April 26 than lawmakers and education groups were angling for ways to restore them. At the top of the list was a four-year, $500 million program for school construction and renovation statewide, as well as $77 million to raise teacher salaries in the state's five biggest urban districts.

Despite the cuts, however, the budget approved by Mr. Pataki contained plenty of good news for schools.

For example, he left intact the legislature's $740 million increase in basic formula-driven aid to districts, a 7.2 percent gain from the current school year and $300 million more than he originally proposed. The increase will bring such aid to more...