Congratulations Email

[Go Plainedge!]

From: John Richman
Subject: THANK YOU PLAINEDGE!!!

With all the makings of a “made for TV movie,” it began with the Plainedge community raising over $550,000 for sports and clubs for our kids. The story could have ended with the Varsity Football team vying for the Long Island Championship.

Instead, the story gained momentum and just kept getting better and better. The community came together once again and conducted a grass roots lobbying campaign to get the Plainedge Schools their fair share of state aid. The result was a whopping $953,887 increase in new state aid. Then, that same energy and synergy worked to get a budget passed on the first ballot.

With a record turn out of 5,393, Plainedge residents overwhelmingly passed this year’s school budget by 1,305 votes making a strong statement about how they value their children’s educational experiences.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and give credit to the many diverse groups of residents that set aside differences for the sake of the children and their community. I believe that Plainedge is a much different place today than it was just one year ago. As the saying goes, “we may not be a town – but, what a community.”

Go Plainedge!!

Has that amount been CONFIRMED or is it still what we THINK we are getting?

Also, what happened to the Star Refund? Has that been "hushed away" because it might not really happen?

[justfacts]

goplainedge![/b]

Next thing you know he'll be taking credit for raising the $570,000 (not $550,000) that he's directly responsible for cutting from the Sports program for the children!

But to your questions;

A) The increased State Aid of $15.5 Million came from the Legislative Branch (Sen. Hannon, etc.) and has been affirmed by him as being dollars that will come into the District in State Aid support on the established schedule. It is REAL, ALLOCATED dollars! The former amount (about $14.55 Million) was the amount that Pataki had allocated to be spent on specific State Aid line elements!

B) The STAR refund seems a little more complex - but bear with this.

The STAR money and the Senior discount money that was due as in past year's, is still due to be paid to the District as the STAR part of the State Aid package - as it always has been paid.

Additionally, Pataki added this year, a Direct check to the Star qualified taxpayer of $300. This was done under the "Enhanced STAR" activity - and to ensure that part of the STAR break was given directly to where it was originally intended - the taxpayer. It comes from funds Pataki ADDED to the STAR program.

Pataki has been perturbed that School Districts were using this money to increase spending and not, as originally intended, to reduce the tax burden - as the acronym spells out! That direct check payment is still on the books and approved!

Also, a further new "STAR PLUS" activity was planned by Pataki for those School Districts that would voluntarily keep their spending increase to Contingency levels. In that plan, just those Districts that so limited their spending would have "STAR PLUS" checks mailed directly to taxpayers.

The Legislative Branch tried, in its budget revision, to make those "Star PLUS" checks available to everyone - no matter what their Budget level. That is the part that is being Constitutionally challenged in the courts - and, most likely, not be approved for years to come - if ever!

That last check type, for the "STAR PLUS" program, is what the Plainedge District mistakenly identified as causing a further reduction in Property tax for Seniors. That information is wrong.

Neither STAR check - Enhanced (existing dollars) or nor Plus (virtually non-existent!) - will be discounted from your Property tax bill by the Town of Oyster Bay! They'll send you (or your Bank) the full bill for $6.5 Thousand plus for School District taxes!

Everyone's tax bill this year - despite the false School District figures in their Budget Newsletter, WILL NOT BE REDUCED BY THESE STAR CHECKS.

And - only one is coming! - The Enhanced STAR for $300 - and it goes directly to those qualified, not to the Town!

I hope that info is helpful (even if not appreciated) for all!

Ed.

On to making sure most of the money goes to the children! That all of the funds going into the District are properly accounted for! That more than 70¢ on the dollar goes to Programs!