Public vs. Private Funds

By: Kiera Hooper

Government funded jobs are popular in New York state. For example, public schools are government funded. The difference between public schools and private schools is that public schools are government funded, paid for by the government. Private schools are paid by parents who send their children to the schools. 

Cortland County Community Action Program (CAPCO) is a head start program in Cortland, New York, for infants to pre-k to 4 which is also government funded. 

Jackie Allbright is a worker at CAPCO. She has worked there for three years. Before she worked there she worked at Jack McNerney Chevrolet, which is different from CAPCO in many ways, including the pay. 

“The pay at CAPCO is a lot lower than McNerneys because CAPCO is paid by the government. So there are advantages and disadvantages to working at a government funded company.” 

This does not only go for CAPCO, the pay is lower for government funded companies than private companies. 

“I wouldn’t leave CAPCO just because of the lower pay, because I know some of these kids don’t have good lives at home so I try to make it as fun for them at school.” 

Allbright says it is an advantage to work at CAPCO because she knows she can make sure the kids are loved and happy at school. 

“I do miss the pay sometimes, but I am happier here. I love working with little kids and being able to teach them things. It’s a lot better than working on cars all day.”