WHEREAS, Funding for New York City's public education system is of critical importance to the economic viability of New York City and New York State and funding for education must continue to be a budgetary priority; and

WHEREAS, In Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State, the New York State Court of Appeals held that funding for education must ensure that every school in New York City has the resources necessary for providing students with the opportunity to receive a sound basic education; and

WHEREAS, The enacted budgets for State fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008- 09 contained an historic increase in education funding that reflects the Legislature's dedication to providing a quality education for all of New York's children; and

WHEREAS, The State is maintaining its important commitment to New York City's school children by providing additional funds to New York City schools through State Foundation Aid and recently provided New York City with an historic level of education funding through Foundation Aid including a $470 million increase in school year 2007-08 and a $622 million increase in school year 2008-09; and

WHEREAS, The State has lived up to its commitment to increase education funding, pursuant to chapter 57 of the laws of 2007, the City of New York now must uphold its commitment to fund New York City's public schools by increasing the City amount of education spending by no less than $2.2 billion by the 2010-2011 school year; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor of the City of New York reduced education spending for the 2007-08 school year by $180 million through a mid-year budget cut to the department of education; and

WHEREAS, The New York City Executive Budget for fiscal year 2009 proposes reductions totaling a $324 million cut to the department of education for the school year 2008-09; and

WHEREAS, As a result of the Mayor's $180 million mid-year budget cut in the 2007-08 school year and the $324 million reduction in education spending proposed by the New York City Executive Budget for fiscal year 2009, the City of New York fails to meet the funding commitment contained in its 2008 fiscal year budget; and

WHEREAS, These reductions cause concern that an additional City amount of $2.2 billion will not be provided by the 2010-2011 school year, as well as erodes the progress that has been made to improve the quality of education in New York City's schools by shortchanging New York City's school children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to urge the Mayor and the City Council of the City of New York to uphold the commitment to New York City's school children by restoring the $180 million mid-year budget cut imposed on the department of education for the 2007-08 school year and by maintaining education funding for the 2008-09 school year as originally contained in the New York City budget fiscal year 2008, adopted in June 2007, to completely restore the $324 million reduction in education spending proposed by the New York City Executive Budget for fiscal year 2009; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Mayor and the City Council of the City of New York.