Gov. Edward D. DiPrete, a Republican, has recommended an 8.34 percent spending increase for K-12 education in fiscal 1987-compared with increases of about 5 percent for other state agencies.
The proposed $21.2 million in additional spending would raise the state’s K-12 general-fund expenditures to $275.6 million, or about 24.6 percent of the Governor’s $1.1-billion budget. The budget as a whole would rise by about 5.1 percent.
The bulk of the spending increase for education—$18.5 million—would be distributed to districts through the state’s general-aid formula, according to Robert C. Whitaker, director of administration and finance for the education department.
That increase includes $6.1 million in new funds designed to raise the state’s share of precollegiate-education costs from 42 percent to 44 percent, as part of a five-year plan to reach a 50-50 state-local ratio.
According to Mr. Whitaker, the Governor’s budget proposal also includes:
- $1.3 million in increased formula aid for handicapped students.
- $500 million more for the state’s teacher-retirement system.
- $75,000 in “seed money” for a dropout-prevention program.
- $310,000—a $100,000 in crease—for the state’s student-testing program.
- $130,000—a $50,000 increase—for grants to districts to promote staff-development activities for superintendents and administrators.
