NYC Has $4.4B In COVID Aid To Spend On Schools, Comptroller Says

NEW YORK CITY — More than $200 million in controversial cuts to New York City's education budget could be avoided if officials tap into $4.4 billion in unspent COVID stimulus funds for schools, said city Comptroller Brad Lander.

Lander released an analysis Monday that argues the city can both fully cover the budget cuts and put "rainy day" money aside to prepare for a potential recession.

"There’s no fiscal need to shortchange our kids," he said in a statement.

The school cuts — which begin with a $215 million drop — were included in the budget that City Council members passed in June.

Officials crafted them in anticipation of enrollment declines, but many Council Members later said they regretted their votes. The cuts prompted protests by angry parents and teachers, as well as a lawsuit.

Last week, a judge temporarily put the cuts on hold while the lawsuit advanced.

Lander's analysis not only comes amid the controversy, but could present a solution. He found the city still has $505.6 million of uncommitted stimulus money to fill the cuts, which his office argued actually total $469 million.

"In total, the City currently has $4.4 billion remaining in federal Covid stimulus aid for education that must be spent by FY25," the analysis states.