Payments and costs associated with charter schools in
Albany continue to affect the city’s taxpayers.
The proposed budget includes $22.14 million for these
payments and costs, an increase of $5.59 million or 33.77 percent over
the current year budget. Under New York State Education law, the
district must pay a per pupil amount for each student who attends
charter schools, as well as provide services such as special education,
transportation and health services.
This year marks the first year that the district will
receive any state compensation for charter school costs. The state
budget adopted in early April includes $2.5 million in “charter school
transitional aid.”
Superintendent Eva Joseph said that the $2.5 million in
charter school transition aid does not adequately compensate for the
$22.14 million in overall charter school costs included in the proposed
budget.
The district can achieve some cost efficiencies due to
charter schools. However, fixed costs such as operating buildings cannot
be eliminated, and staff costs cannot be reduced proportionately with
the enrollment changes.
A budget defeat does not impact the amount the district
must pay to charter schools next year.