PAROCHIAL SCHOOL KIDS NOT SECOND CLASS!

Last April and August, Governor Paterson and the NY State Legislature made "across the board" cuts in the state budget. Private and parochial schools are reimbursed by the state through the Mandated Services Aid (MSA) program for their expenses for administering state programs and complying with state mandates. Some 18% was cut from the MSA funding for private and parochial schools. Public schools did not experience any cuts. On the contrary, an additional increase of $1.8 billion state-wide was made for the public schools.

The state budget will be revisited in November. It furnishes an opportunity to let your state Senators and members of the Assembly know that you would like them to approve A11075 and S 8197. These bills restore MSA funding to last year's figures. Below is the e-mail I sent to my representatives in the Assembly; a similar message was sent to my representatives in the State Senate.

11075, S 8197 - a MANDATED SERVICES AID PROGRAM

LADIES/GENTLEMEN,

As a retired two time pastor, I know how helpful the MSA was to my two parochial schools . I urge you to restore the severe cuts made in this year's budget. Public schools were not subjected to any cuts. On the contrary, they received an overall increase of $1.8 billion statewide

The NY Times (October 10) reported the concern of public school folks that, because of today's severe financial crisis, more private schools will be shutting down and flooding the already overcrowded public schools. Parochial schools get more value out of each dollar than do the public schools. To help in all this, please return to last year's budget figure.

And please bring A 11075 to the floor with the cuts restored. Thank you!

Msgr. Harry J. Byrne