By Mary Malloy
In the newest figures released by Spitzer on Sunday, the state used a new aid formula based on need, implemented new accountability measures and expanded the number of charter schools. "There has never been a better budget for education," Spitzer said. "We are providing ample resources, targeting them where they are needed most and insisting on accountability."
The budget provides a statewide increase of $1.76 billion in education aid.
"The governor's [tentative] budget plan slashed Long Island's share of school aid and eliminated our property tax rebate checks," said Sen. Dean Skelos, a Republican from Rockville Centre who is the Senate's deputy majority leader. "We refused to pass a budget that discriminated against Long Island - and we won."
Long Island schools will receive $115 million more than they would have under the governor's plan, and most homeowners will receive rebate checks twice as large as the ones they received last fall, according to Skelos. "These historic state school aid increases will protect homeowners from higher property taxes and ensure that our children have the resources they need to succeed in the classroom," he said.
Nassau County will receive a total of $746.6 million in state school aid, according to Tom Dunham, an aide to Skelos. "That's a huge number," Dunham said.
Skelos said, "I believe that by providing this additional aid, it will help stabilize property taxes and provide relief for local homeowners."
In a letter addressed to Spitzer, and signed by Skelos and two dozen Long Island Assembly members, lawmakers said that escalating property taxes have imposed an undue burden on their constituents. "To stabilize school property taxes, the 2007-08 New York state budget must preserve Long Island's traditional share of state education aid and provide property tax relief for every homeowner."
The legislators appealed to the governor to consider allocating funds to Nassau and Suffolk school districts to more accurately reflect student enrollment. "Long Island families need real property tax relief," said Skelos. "This is a critical, bipartisan priority for Nassau and Suffolk county legislators."
"We didn't ask for our fair share," said Assemblyman Tom Alfano, a Republican from North Valley Stream. "We demanded it. We are not in a one-size-fits-all situation." Alfano, who was in Albany with other legislators for a week, likened the proceedings to "shots of adrenaline."
"We made it clear that the original proposal was dead on arrival," said Alfano. "When you don't get your fair share of school aid, it means districts have to raise taxes - plain and simple."
The delegates, along with the Long Island Association, advocated for a school aid allocation that reflected the region's share of statewide student enrollment, which is 16.7 percent. The proposed Executive Budget would have reduced the counties' share of new state school aid to 8.16 percent. It also would have eliminated the rebate check program that provided Long Island with 27 percent of its total property tax savings. And it would have enacted a STAR enhancement with a maximum eligibility threshold below the region's median household income.
"The children and taxpayers of Nassau County joined with us in a great victory in this year's budget battle," said Assemblyman Bob Barra, a Republican from Lynbrook. "The 2007-08 budget will increase education aid to our Nassau County schools by more than $50 million above the governor's original proposal. The budget also includes a $6 billion property tax rebate check program..."
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