Here's a reprint of the Newsday Article about the change in State Aid.
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LI schools get boost in aid
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BY JOHN HILDEBRAND, Newsday Staff Writer. April 1, 2006
State lawmakers delivered a welcome election-year gift Friday to Long Island: a $142.6-million boost in annual aid for public schools, millions more for districts that have the highest taxes, and school tax rebates for beleaguered homeowners.
The school-aid increase, described as a record amount by legislative supporters,
would boost the Island's total state assistance by 7.1 percent next year, to $2.1 billion. The budget package approved by the State Legislature would also provide households with tax-rebate checks averaging between $280 and $300 in
October - less than a month before statewide elections.
Local school officials, though elated, do harbor one concern: Gov.
George Pataki has denounced parts of the budget as fiscally irresponsible and
might resort to vetoes. Scott Reif, a spokesman for the governor's budget division, declined to comment Friday.
Still, educators say the aid increases would go a long way toward curbing tax increases in school budgets scheduled to be voted on Islandwide next month.
"They heard us loud and clear, and did what they had to do to help Long Island," said William Johnson, superintendent of Rockville Centre schools and a former president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. "I would say that this is going to ... increase significantly the possibility of getting budgets passed."
Rockville Centre's school aid is due to rise 6.88 percent next year, to $6.8 million. The district also is scheduled to receive $109,500 in special money earmarked for districts with the highest school-tax rates and a $1.1-million grant for school construction or renovation.
"It still doesn't bring equity, but it's a step in the right direction," said Calvin Wilson, director of finance for Wyandanch schools. That district, which has complained for years of being shortchanged by the state, would get an aid increase of 3.78 percent, to $28.7 million, along with $64,400 in tax relief and $1.5 million for construction or renovation.
This is the second consecutive year that lawmakers have approved a school-aid package on time to meet the state's April 1 deadline, after 20 years of late approvals. Already, some local districts say the well-timed financial boost will help them reduce projected tax increases as they prepare for budget votes on May 16.
In South Huntington, school board President
Jim Kaden says the extra aid should allow his district to hold next year's tax-rate hike under 4 percent. The district had once feared it might have to boost taxes as much as 5.9 percent, based on earlier aid projections that were lower. South Huntington's aid is slated to rise 13.45 percent to $21.1 million, with another $181,400 in tax relief and $1.5 million for construction or renovation.
"I think we have to wait to see what the governor does now," said Kaden, who is vice president of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. "We're cautiously optimistic here, you know."
In approving a record $1.1-billion increase in aid statewide, to a total of $16.8 billion, legislators have sought to satisfy rival constituencies: suburban residents, angry over high property taxes, and civic activists in New York City, who have won a series of court decisions directing more money to their schools.
Long Island's aid increase will maintain the bi-county region's share of the state's pie at about last year's level, 12.7 percent. Nassau's share will rise slightly, and Suffolk's share will dip. New York City is slated for a 7.1 percent aid increase, to $6.4 billion, that will raise its share slightly to 38.4 percent. In addition, New York City is to receive $1.8 billion in construction money next year along with additional billions over the following two years - a major goal of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Nassau Republicans were quick to claim credit for holding on to their area's share of the money. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) deputy majority leader in the State Senate, credited the Island's nine Republican senators for fighting off efforts by New York City Democrats to grab a bigger slice.
While some veteran educators agree with that political assessment, local Democrats see things differently. Said Assemb. Thomas DiNapoli (D-Great Neck), "I think the suburban constituency was well represented on both sides of the aisle."
Some financial analysts think legislators have overstepped it. E.J. McMahon, director of the Manhattan Institute's Empire Center for New York State Policy, a conservative Albany think tank said, "The fact that they're overjoyed, I think, is a bad sign for taxpayers."
What districts would get - Estimated state aid for the 2006-07 school year. (Percentages given can be high in some districts due to building and transportation aid included in the state aid package).
DISTRICT ESTIMATEDAid ($) and % change from 2006-07 '05-06
Plainedge $15,505,048, 9.40%
TOTALS
Nassau County $681,890,863, 10.14%
Suffolk County $1,462,708,708, 5.77%
New York State $16,890,735,224, 6.96%
Copyright (c) 2006, Newsday, Inc.
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Go to Newsday Site for a full list of each District in Nassau and Suffolk.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Breathe new life into the BOE! - C_P_R it!
;D The winning team for change! Cantatore_Presuto_Raymond ;D
Make sure the children get their fair share - First!
Ed.