Local school officials react to state aid numbers

Herald file photo

The Lynbrook School District would receive a cut in it state aid for the 2012-13 school year, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed state budget released on Jan. 17. The East Rockaway School District would receive $60,223 more than it did in 2011-12.

Lynbrook’s state aid would be cut $6,166 if Cuomo’s budget proposal is approved by the Legislature, according to the New York State Education Department’s website. During the current 2011-12 academic school year, Lynbrook received $7,111,196 in state aid. That figure is to be reduced by .09 percent in the coming academic year under the proposal.

“It was disturbing to say the least,” said Lynbrook Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino of his reaction to the aid figures. “Given this time, of the cap on the levy, and I know the school districts including ours are doing all that can be done to meet the cap. Not to have the support of the state is very disturbing and very disappointing.”

The tax levy cap went in effect on Jan.1 and limits the amount a district can raise its tax levy to 2 percent. “Right now every penny matters because we’re trying to meet the cap,” Barbarino said.

While the East Rockaway district would get a slight bump in state aid, Marcy Tannenbaum, director of finance operations, said the number is not enough. “We were very disappointed,” Tannenbaum said. “We were anticipating more.”

To reach the total state aid figure, the budget proposal outlines the revenue breakdowns for each district. Foundation aid, the basic assistance for school districts, remains at the same level as the 2008-09 school year. For Lynbrook, the foundation aid stays at $5,910,283, while East Rockaway has a foundation aid of $3,837,723. Other state aid amounts, such as BOCES, transportation and technology, are based on a district’s costs. When all those figures are totaled, the state reduces its aid by making a “Gap Elimination Adjustment” to each district to help close the state’s budget deficit.