In an unprecedented collaboration between Nassau County's many school boards, school officials launched a countywide letter-writing campaign to request that state lawmakers ensure Nassau schools get their fair share of aid.

This unified campaign is a key part of Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi's ongoing drive to correct the inequities in state aid.

"This is the first time the school boards of Nassau County have come together to speak with one voice about the problems we all share," Suozzi said. "No matter what district we're in - whether we're on the South Shore or North Shore, whether we live in a wealthy district or a struggling one - Nassau County taxpayers send much more money to Albany than we get back in aid. I am confident that with all these smart, dedicated and diverse folks tackling this tough issue together, we'll be able to make real change for the taxpayers of Nassau County."

School officials from most of Nassau County's 56 school boards have been meeting regularly in working groups since the November launch of Suozzi's initiative, hammering out a multi-faceted plan to rein in taxes. The letter-writing campaign marks the first phase of that plan. The school officials are also exploring sharing goods and services among districts and identifying alternate sources of revenue.

"As Nassau County school board members, we are working in unprecedented collaboration out of deep concern about the future of our schools because our property tax burden has become unsustainable," the letter begins. "We have come to the point where our residents can no longer withstand the financial crisis this has created."

The letter asks state legislators to consider two key tasks when devising their plan of action to correct funding inequities. The first is to make sure that Nassau residents receive a proportionate return of state income tax dollars. Long Island taxpayers send $3 billion more to Albany every year than they get in return.

The second task for legislators is to revise the regional cost factor, the formula Albany uses to gauge school aid, Suozzi said. The state currently uses property values to determine the amount local districts receive. But soaring property values in Nassau County means property wealth no longer reflects a homeowner's ability to pay property taxes, Suozzi said.

"We recognize there are structural problems we all face that put our residents at a clear financial disadvantage, and a state aid formula that more accurately and fairly returns what we on Long Island give to the state would be a significant first step," the letter says.