Senator Michael Balboni said this year's state budget would include a significant increase in state aid for towns and villages in his district with the goal of helping municipalities to control local property tax growth.

"Local governments are the backbone of our community. I remain committed to ensuring that our localities get their fair share. That's why I successfully fought for an increase in state aid for each and every one of the towns and villages I represent in the Senate," he said.

The 2006-07 state budget, which will be approved by the legislature later this week, includes more than $6.7 million for the towns in Nassau County and over $5.7 million for Nassau's villages to help ease the burgeoning pressure of local property taxes.

The breakdown in the increase in aid for Bellerose, Floral Park, South Floral Park and Stewart Manor is as follows, including each locality's total aid, followed by the increase in aid from 2005-06 in parentheses: Bellerose $14,565 ($2,424); Floral Park $277,245 ($46,139); South Floral Park $31,666 ($5,270); and Stewart Manor $44,286 ($7,370).