Court Opinion

ID: 9531553
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:12:54.714698+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:30.720426
License: Public Domain

Rosenblatt, J.
(concurring). I join the majority in its ratio*33nale and result, but write separately to emphasize that my vote should not be construed as concluding that $1.93 billion, as adjusted, is necessarily the proper additional budgetary amount to provide New York City schools, or that $2.45 billion is the amount that should be budgeted statewide. These figures were determined by a commission designated by the State as reflecting the constitutional minimum for a sound basic education. I join the majority because I agree that Supreme Court should not have directed the referees’ recalculation, considering that the state budget plan had already calculated the amount in a way that, as a matter of law, was not arbitrary or irrational.
That does not mean that the State is limited to the minimum, or “floor,” of what it takes to provide a sound basic education. Judging by Governor Pataki’s higher budgeting and the similarly heartening indications that Governor-elect Spitzer will continue in a direction higher than the minimum, there is every indication that the amounts dedicated will be well above the constitutional floor. When it comes to educating its children, New York State will not likely content itself with the minimum. Indeed, after this suit was initiated the State provided for an additional $9 billion investment in capital improvements for the City’s schools. How much more it can and should spend, however, is a matter for the political branches, which will be free to avail themselves of the valuable work performed by the distinguished panel of referees.
I also emphasize, most importantly, that this lawsuit has consequences beyond New York City and that there are, no doubt, other school districts that should benefit from increased budgets. This requires a statewide approach that is also best left to the Executive and Legislature.