According to a new survey of New York’s school superintendents, state and federal funding increases have helped expand and enrich the services that schools can provide but a “fiscal cliff” looms in the coming years.

Bob Lowry, deputy director for Advocacy, Research and Communications at the New York State Council of School Superintendents, told Capital Tonight that an erosion of other services like mental healthcare has led to schools stepping up to fill the void.

Lowry said the key takeaways from the annual survey of school superintendents is that schools are taking on more responsibility to address non-academic needs and that state and federal money has made a difference in the number and quality of services provided. According to the survey, superintendents report that services like core instruction, mental health services, and school security will be improved due to increases in state funding and federal assistance.

The federal assistance which was approved during the COVID-19 pandemic is set to end in the next two years. On the state level, a big funding boost came when the state worked to fund foundation aid. However, the two percent tax cap does remain in effect which one lower Hudson Valley superintendent argued “slowly but surely erod[es] the ability” for schools to maintain programs.

Gov. Hochul is expected to unveil her budget proposal next month for the coming fiscal year. A budget needs to be approved by the legislature and governor by April 1.