Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his 2015 executive budget this afternoon, including a $100 million Education Investment Tax Credit benefiting students attending both public and nonpublic schools.

“UJA-Federation of New York thanks Governor Cuomo for including the Education Investment Tax Credit in his Executive Budget. This legislation will strengthen education opportunities for students and their families in both public and non-public schools,” said Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York.

The Education Investment Tax Credit would increase the investment in education by encouraging more charitable donations – donations that benefit all students regardless of what type of school they attend. UJA-Federation of New York, in cooperation with other groups including the Orthodox Union, the Catholic Conference, Agudath Israel and The Coalition for Opportunity in Education, supported the legislation.

“As a day school parent, it is important to my family and I to know that Jewish education will be sustainable for all members of our community for many years to come,” said Barry Lovell, Chair of the UJA-Federation of New York Day School Advocacy Committee. “We thank Governor Cuomo for working to enhance educational opportunities for all students.”

Prior to Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address and Executive Budget briefing, the New York State Senate passed a similar Education Investment Tax Credit bill, introduced by Senator Martin Golden of Brooklyn. Jeff Leb, Managing Director of Government and External relations for UJA Federation said, “We applaud Governor Cuomo and the sponsors of the bill in the legislature – Senator Marty Golden and Assemblyman Michael Cusick – for the inclusion of EITC and are hopeful that this legislation will become law when the NY State budget is adopted.”

For this legislation to become law, the measure introduced by the governor will need to pass both the Senate and the Assembly in order to be included in the final state budget due April 1.

(YWN Desk – NYC)