News

NEW YORK, NY July 20, 2005 —A non-partisan budget group says the growth in state education spending has lagged behind the New York City's own contribution.

The Independent Budget Office looked at school spending over the past 15 years. During that period, the report found city spending on education jumped by 50 percent and has continued to rise since Mayor Bloomberg took office.

But state spending on the city schools grew by just 26 percent. The city schools have a budget of 15 billion dollars a year. The report found the state's share of that is smaller than it's been in the past. But it says that's due to increases in city and federal support.

A spokesman for Governor Pataki says the state's been giving the New York City schools a greater share of dollars than they've received in the past. Meanwhile, Pataki is appealing a court ruling that found the state owes the city billions of dollars in additional school aid.