By Dan Israeli
The Sewanhaka Central High School district saw the biggest increase, netting an additional $2.2 million over the executive budget, making its final aid package $29.5 million. The Elmont Union Free School District received an additional $463,919, making its total $21.6 million. State aid for the Franklin Square Union Free School District will be $302,661 more than under the proposed budget, bringing its total to $7.6 million.
Long Island schools received a record $2.6 billion in education aid in the 2008-09 budget, an increase of $236 million over this year - and $121 more than was proposed in Spitzer's executive budget.
Assemblyman Tom Alfano (R-Franklin Square) called the package a turning point for Long Island taxpayers and schools, with the region finally receiving its fair share of state aid. "This was a battle that we had to win, and we did it," Alfano said. "These increases are critical for our schools and taxpayers. When you think of the great effort to shift money from our community to [New York City], the magnitude of what was done is truly extraordinary. This increase in state aid is targeted towards reducing property taxes for our community; it's as simple as that."
State Sen. Craig M. Johnson (D-Port Washington) said that the final packages are a significant improvement over the aid proposed for local districts in the executive budget. "This education budget repaired what would have been a disastrous plan for our schools, our children and, ultimately, our taxpayers," Johnson said. "With this current economic climate, there was a fight for every last dollar. Despite these hardships, we were able to come up with a budget that places an emphasis on education and spares our children from bearing the brunt of this looming financial crisis." Johnson was referring to the state's projected $4.6 billion deficit.
The additional $2.2 million for Sewanhaka, which includes H. Frank Carey and Elmont Memorial high schools, will lower the district's 2008-09 budget tax levy increase from 4.9 to 2.8 percent, according to Superintendent Warren Meierdiercks. "We're thrilled," Meierdiercks said, referring to the package, which brought BOCES and "foundation" aid figures back up after they had been cut in the executive budget. The final package also included $889,779 in high tax aid, a category that was unfunded in the executive budget. High tax aid is funding specifically earmarked to reduce school district residents' property taxes.
Sewanhaka's proposed 2008-09 budget increases spending by 4.8 percent over the current year. There will be one more public hearing on May 6 before the budget is voted on May 20.
In its final package, the Elmont district also included an increase in high tax aid, to nearly $1.1 million, a 36.7 percent increase over the executive budget. Franklin Square will receive $762,483 in high tax aid, more than twice the $284,701 proposed in the executive budget.
Johnson said he had had numerous meetings with members of Gov. David Paterson's staff in recent weeks, to personally lobby for more state aid to local districts. "From the end of January to last week, I have been intimately involved in meetings with the governor's budget staff," said Johnson, who added that he worked alongside his fellow legislators to push for the region's fair share. "This is an issue that really unites Democrats and Republicans on Long Island. It's about persistence - it's not a partisan issue."
Alfano has been vocal in his opposition to Spitzer's original proposal, which he described as favoring New York City over Long Island. "That budget plan essentially stole funding for our communities and sent it to New York," Alfano said. "At the same time, that plan would have resulted in tax increases and was an educational blueprint for disaster." He added that the aid proposed in the executive budget would have resulted in double-digit tax increases, which would have driven seniors and working class families from their homes.
Alfano acknowledged a collaborative community effort, noting that events like the Nassau County Regional PTA breakfast and State of Elmont Address helped bring residents together to lobby for more school aid. He pointed to the importance of PTA members like Veronica Goldberg of Franklin Square and Judy VanHaaren of Elmont, who helped coordinate local budget forums for community members. "There is no question that the advocacy that PTA and parents mobilized helped this effort," Alfano said. "They were a tremendous help to all of us and I can't thank them enough."
One person Johnson would like to thank is Paterson, whose local ties may make him more sympathetic to the issues of Long Islanders than Spitzer. "In the short time Governor Paterson has been in his current office, he and his staff have shown an understanding of Long Island and Long Island issues, as well as a willingness to partner with us during budget negotiations," Johnson said. "I look forward to continuing to work with the administration on matters that affect my constituents."
Comments about this story? DIsraeli@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 214.
