Preconsidered Res. No. 843
Title
Resolution calling upon Governor George Pataki to withdraw a Fiscal Year 2003-2004 budget proposal to cut funding to the City University of New York, and further calling upon the New York State Legislature to reject all Fiscal Year 2003-2004 budget proposals that limit funding for the City University of New York.
Body
By Council Members Rivera, Barron, Clarke, Fidler, Gennaro, Liu, Nelson, Quinn, Sanders, Sears, Serrano, Weprin and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)
Whereas, High-quality, affordable and accessible higher education is vital to New York State and City; and
Whereas, Due to declines in State funding, the students of the City University of New York (CUNY) carry seventy-five percent (75%) more of the fiscal responsibility for CUNY's funding than did their counterparts ten years ago; and
Whereas, According to a report issued in September of 2002 by the New York Public Interest Research Group, entitled Shifiting the Burden (the "Report"), currently, New York State has the fourteenth most expensive four-year public colleges and the fifth most expensive public community colleges in the nation; and
Whereas, Additionally, the Report notes that New York State is ranked the third worst of all fifty states in its proportion of tax dollars spent on higher education, and between 1990 and 2000, the cost of average tuition and fees (adjusted for inflation) for higher education in New York State skyrocketed by 97%, while State funding for higher education declined by 22%; and
Whereas, Governor Pataki's State budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 increases tuition by $1,200 per student for both senior and community colleges and restructures the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) so that individual TAP grants provided prior to graduation are reduced by one-third; and
Whereas, Although Governor Pataki asserts that the restructuring of the TAP program will enhance student performance, TAP awards are already tied to student performance and the proposed restructuring will make it harder for needy students to afford college; and
Whereas, Furthermore, Governor Pataki's proposal will have an overwhelmingly adverse effect on CUNY's students and faculty; and
Whereas, The 1995 increase in tuition rates at New York State public colleges by $750 resulted in a drop in undergraduate college enrollment in those colleges by approximately 29,000 students; and
Whereas, Although the State faces difficult budgetary decisions, it must not balance its budget on the backs of college students and their families; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon Governor George Pataki to withdraw a Fiscal Year 2003-2004 budget proposal to cut funding to the City University of New York; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to reject all Fiscal Year 2003-2004 budget proposals that limit funding for the City University of New York.
LS# 2317
GRS
04/21/03
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