By RICK MILLER
CattCoNews&Photos
ALBANY — Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda, said Friday afternoon that it appears the state’s hold harmless policy for school districts would continue. The policy guaranteed school districts didn’t lose state aid from one year to the next – even with a declining enrollment.
Several Cattaraugus County school districts including Allegany, Ellicottville and West Valley would have lost foundation aid under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025 state budget. That was not one of the budget items the Assembly had voted on by 3:30 p.m. Friday. The new state budget was due April 1, so was 19 days late.
“We’re doing the easy, less controversial bills first, Giglio said. “School aid hasn’t shown up yet, but I think we’ve won hold harmless for the schools.”
This is Gigilo’s last state budget before leaving the Assembly at the end of the year. After 19 years, he decided against seeking re-election.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders announced a conceptual budget agreement on Monday, but state lawmakers did not start voting on sections of the budget until Friday.
Giglio said state lawmakers would probably work late into the night and come back on Saturday to finish voting on the budget bills. There will be no sessions Monday or Tuesday due to Passover, so lawmakers will want to finish voting on budget bills on Saturday.
That’s what legislative leaders and the governor hope will happen, Giglio said. The bills are being voted on under a message of necessity that waives the normal time state lawmakers have to review a bill before voting on it. “We don’t get to see the bills. We get briefed by the Ways and Means Committee.”
By Friday afternoon, three of the 10 budget bills had passed the Assembly.
“We don’t know how much the budget is going to cost,” Giglio said. Latest estimates are that the budget total will surpass $237 million.
The last bill that comes along is called “the Big Ugly,” Giglio said. “They pretty much throw all controversial stuff in one bill. It contains all the other things they didn’t want to talk about.”
Giglio said, “They don’t give you time to review anything and there’s no public input. The shaky budget deal will fall apart if the public finds out.”
Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda, said Friday state lawmakers should finish up voting on state budget bills on Saturday. The budget should continue the hold harmless policy for school districts.
State Assembly Photo
