More aid for local schools

The Seaford, Wantagh and Levittown school districts will get increases in state aid next year, according to figures released last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo following his State of the State address.

The Gap Elimination Adjustment, which was created in 2009 to help the state close its budget deficit, would remain for at least another year, but districts would not lose as much money because of it as in past years.

The 3,100-student Wantagh School District would receive $15.5 million next year, an increase of $704,000, or 4.76 percent.

Levittown, one of Nassau County’s largest districts, covering portions of Wantagh and Seaford, is in line for a 2.76 percent state-aid increase, to nearly $53.2 million.

Seaford would receive nearly $11.9 million next year, an increase of about $592,000 or 5.24 percent. “I’m very happy for any increase in state aid,” Superintendent Brian Conboy said.

After years of cuts, Seaford made several restorations to its budget this year, bringing back 12 department chairs, a full middle-school sports program, an elementary school librarian, social workers and other positions. Conboy said that with the district in better financial shape, these programs and positions are sustainable for the long term.

The first public budget discussions for 2016-17 will take place at the Board of Education’s Feb. 4 meeting, he said.

While overall aid is increasing, school districts will still not get their full share of money because of the continued Gap Elimination Adjustment. Some funds have been restored each year, and Cuomo proposes adding back 30 percent to school district coffers next year.

Wantagh would still fall short about $745,000 of the total state aid it could have. Levittown would lose $1.75 million through the GEA, and Seaford $513,000.

School officials are hopeful that legislators will push for the end of the GEA this year, which would further drive up aid in a year when the property tax increase limit under the state tax cap could be close to zero.