Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the time has come to change the formula for how state education aid is distributed.

"The same formula that was used with a Republican Senate is used by a Democratic Senate. The same formula that was used with Sheldon Silver, and Joe Bruno, and Dean Skelos, and all these names now from the history book — it's the same formula," said Cuomo.

That formula, which the governor says has been in effect for at least a generation, gives New York City 38 percent of state education aid, Long Island 13 percent, and the rest of the state the remainder, which is 49 percent.

Changing that formula could lead to a big fight, pitting upstate lawmakers against downstate ones, suburban versus urban.

Robert Jackson, who sits on the Senate Education Committee, says it would be impossible make changes because all districts are currently underfunded.

"Updating the formula would mean that more money is needed in there. Because the needs are greater overall, with all of the mental health issues, with all of the English language learners," said Jackson, a Democratic state senator representing parts of Manhattan.

A shift in the formula could pull money out of New York City schools.

"Most of the poor schools are upstate. If you did it to the poorer schools, most of them would be upstate New York," said Cuomo.

Critics say changing the formula is not something that can be done overnight. Jackson says it would lead to "war."

"The bottom line is it would be a mess. It would be a war because school districts are struggling as it is," said Jackson.

With the Medicaid budget deficit, and stark differences over what to do with bail reform, Albany already has some big fights to sort out in this year's budget due April 1.

Adding a change in the school funding formula seems unlikely, since every member of the state legislature is up for re-election this year and no one wants to bring home less money for their school districts.