Calling Governor Eliot Spitzer's education aid proposal "dead on arrival," Assemblyman Tom Alfano blasted the governor's budget proposal saying, "It robs from the suburbs and sends it to the city. People are taxed up to their necks in our community. Now, the governor's answer is that he wants to increase taxes on middle-class families and seniors. He just doesn't get it, and, it's hurting all of us."

The governor's budget proposal was revealed Tuesday to state assemblymembers and senators where the governor outlined what Assemblyman Alfano called, "a patently unfair budget that tells communities like Floral Park to raise taxes and cut services."

Under provisions of the governor's budget, Assemblyman Alfano pointed to the governor's lowering of the region's fair share of state aid. "The governor tried to cut Long Island's share of state aid last year and we stopped him. This year, he's trying to slash our share 40 percent. That cut hits taxpayers in the wallet and hurts our children. I guess this really comes as no surprise, last year, he cut aid to our hospitals and schools and we stopped him. I guess he still didn't get the message. Well, we'll send it to him again." Alfano said.

Under the governor's budget proposal, the Floral Park-Bellerose Elementary and Sewanhaka Central High School Districts will see a negligible increase. For the Sewanhaka High School district, BOCES aid is cut almost in half and high tax aid was eliminated. For the Floral Park-Bellerose School district, the governor's proposal gives a paltry 1.9 percent increase, which does not even touch increased costs in the running of the district. "The fact that our high schools lose high tax aid and our elementary schools need nothing more is laughable in this budget. I'd like to see the governor's budget office tell people in Floral Park that they're not taxed enough. This budget says exactly that," Alfano said.

"For Floral Park, this budget is devastating. It does not put the investment into our schools and falls way too short for taxpayers. For senior citizens and working families, this is a frightening budget that could mean tax increases plain and simple," Assemblyman Alfano said, adding, "The fight begins now and we're going to tell the governor he's dead wrong on this education plan."

Senator Dean Skelos added, "Just like last year, Governor Spitzer has proposed a state school aid plan that discriminates against Long Island, undermines the quality of our schools and raises property taxes. The governor is again attempting to slash 40 percent of Long Island's new state school aid and send our money to New York City. This will raise property taxes and jeopardize our children's future. He's also turned his back on the commitment he made to provide Long Island homeowners with property tax relief. Last year, Assemblyman Tom Alfano and I successfully fought for Long Island's fair share and, this year, we'll again lead the fight to protect our local school districts."

If cutting the regional share of state aid to Long Island schools wasn't enough, Assemblyman Alfano said, the governor has also proposed lowering the floor for Foundation Aid from 3 to 2 percent. The assemblyman believes this would disproportionately hurt Long Island schools by lowering the actual amount of new state aid many school districts receive. This is a reduction in actual dollars to schools. "Where do we make up these cuts to our schools? The answer is simple. The governor wants to take it from the taxpayer. That's wrong and Senator Skelos and I are going to fight it every step of the way," Assemblyman Alfano added.

Another provision of the governor's proposed budget outlines a $10 million cut in high tax aid than in past years. "With the cut in Foundation Aid, and our regional share, this is a triple cut to schools in the governor's plan," he continued.

Assemblyman Alfano called the apparent cut of $9 million to special education very chilling to children who need services desperately. "I will be watching this line item very carefully. This kind of cut is not just a bad decision, but has a devastating impact on a family. I, for one, won't stand for it. We will not balance budgets on the backs of special education," he concluded.