Non-Instructional Public School Spending: Low in NYC, Sky-High Elsewhere in NY State
by Larry Littlefield
by Larry Littlefield
For years, pundits inside the city and out have demanded that New York City reduce its high level of wasteful spending outside the classroom, with some asserting that if only New York City’s non-instructional spending were at typical levels it would have plenty of money for teaching. There was perhaps no greater falsehood ever spread in the city’s fiscal debates. Instead, it is the rest of New York State that stands out in its sky-high non-instructional spending relative to the national average, while New York City has always been low. In fiscal 2005, non-instructional spending totaled $3,423 per student in New York City, or $2,554 if the cost of living is adjusted for, well below the national average of $3,400. The Downstate Suburbs (also adjusted for living costs), Upstate New York, and New Jersey (adjusted as well) far exceeded national average at $4,221, $4,350, and $4,449 respectively. The U.S. Census Bureau data on expenditures per pupil may be found in the spreadsheet attached to my previous post here:
http://www.r8ny.com/blog/larry_littlefield/per_student_revenues_and_expenditures_in_fy_2002_and_fy_2005_a_little_good_news_and_lot_of_bad_news_for_n .
A more detailed discussion, including a discussion of changes from FY 2002 to FY 2005, follows.
http://www.r8ny.com/blog/larry_littlefield/per_student_revenues_and_expenditures_in_fy_2002_and_fy_2005_a_little_good_news_and_lot_of_bad_news_for_n .
A more detailed discussion, including a discussion of changes from FY 2002 to FY 2005, follows.
