More than 40 yeshivas, day schools and Jewish community organizations participated in a conference call reviewing the New York State budget impact on the Jewish community with Assistant Speaker Assemblymember Rhoda Jacobs hosted jointly by the OU’s Institute for Public Affairs and the UJA-Federation of New York. Items discussed included the restoration of full funding for mandated services, correction of the formula under which the Comprehensive Attendance Program reimbursement is calculated, the new funds made available for security, and the exemption of nonpublic schools from the MTA Payroll Tax. Assembly member Jacobs also specified the manner in which organizations could take advantage of budget items and what these items would mean in actual dollar figures.
OU New York State Director of Political Affairs Michael Cohen said, “If we are to ensure that our community and its leadership become engaged in our legislative budget process to the degree necessary to have a substantive impact on it, it is critical that we promote and make available an understanding of that process. Assemblymember Jacobs helped the budget come alive for our community this afternoon and I would like to thank her for her efforts both today and on behalf of our community throughout her career.” Read more here.