Elmont Online

The New York State budget storm has not subsided and school districts are reeling over proposed state aid cuts being proposed by Governor David Paterson as part of his new State budget document. The proposed budget was unveiled in Albany last week with the Education portion of the budget getting a very close look by Assemblyman Tom Alfano, the areas education advocate.

Alfano studied state aid runs after attending the budget presentation and labeled the million dollar cuts to local schools “a taxpayer’s nightmare.”  Local school districts from Floral Park, Franklin Square and Elmont through Sewanhaka High School districts received “devastating” cuts according to Alfano that “mean only one thing- higher taxes that people can’t afford and that we have to stop in their tracks.” Alfano pointed to the West Hempstead and Valley Stream 13 schools districts as receiving cuts “that can’t even be sustained through economic development.”

“This budget says one thing to taxpayers- pay more and more,” said Assemblyman Alfano noting, “I’m shocked that the Governor hasn’t gotten the message that the tax increases have to stop. Last year, Governor Paterson and his allies in the State Senate cut our regional share of school aid, cut Star Rebate checks, raised CUNY and SUNY tuitions, cut health care and raised taxes and fees like it was nothing. Now we’re finding out that they’re not done with Long Island. They want more. It’s a disgrace.”

Last year the enacted State budget opposed by Alfano and local Senators Dean Skelos and Kemp Hannon rejected Long Island’s regional school aid share cut. “The school aid cut last year set a precedent that said rob from Long Island and send to New York City. They’re trying it again. Last year, we had great upsets in elections throughout the County and State because politicians didn’t listen to the people. The people don’t want these cuts and can’t afford the tax increases. I, for one, won’t tolerate it.”

The Governor’s State Aid cuts to local schools will no doubt have severe consequences and are the steepest cuts ever in local memory. The cuts come on the heels of a State Aid payment that was stopped by the Governor in the Fall.  In addition, last year’s budget held an MTA tax that was promised to be paid in full but never was paid to schools resulting in schools having to cut further.  “The past year and a half has been a nightmare for our schools and it isn’t ending anytime soon. These cuts are going to have drastic consequences for taxpayers.”

Alfano detailed the local State Aid Cuts for Districts:

• Elmont -1,802,266
• Franklin Square -258,078
• Sewanhaka-3,330,702
• Floral Park -380,635
• West Hempstead -851,660
• Valley Stream 13 -580,168

Assemblyman Alfano concluded noting, “this is the time where we’re going to see what the priority is for Long Island and our communities from State leaders. The fact is that the Senate Leader is from Brooklyn, the Finance committee chairman is from Brooklyn, the Speaker is from Manhattan, the Ways and Means Committee Chair is from Manhattan and the Education Chair is from Queens. The people have to hold politicians accountable and not tolerate this daytime train robbery of our State aid being pickpocketed from Long Island and carried back to the City.”

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