Adopted in the 2009-2010 budget year, the GEA (known originally as the Deficit Reduction Assessment) was made a permanent part of state aid allocations in 2011-2012. The GEA refers to that between budgeted state expenditures and the revenue available to support those expenditures. Because of the GEA, state aid has been reduced which has resulted in many programs and staff to be cut in districts throughout New York State. Reduced state aid has shifted the cost to local property tax payers and has made a significant impact on the ability of school districts to remain educationally viable.

The GEA negatively effects every School District and every tax payer in New York State. We are calling upon the New York State Legislature to stop the GEA for New York State's 2015-2016 Annual Budget.