Alfano: School Aid Shatters Records

"On time and the biggest school aid package in New York State history," Assemblyman Tom Alfano declared as the budget was recently being passed on the floor of the state Assembly. According to Alfano, the school aid package portion of the budget shattered all records in school aid appropriation to the 21st Assembly District. In fact, it's the largest in New York state history for the area. "No doubt about it - this is a big win," he said.

Sewanhaka High School received an increase of $779,683 while Floral Park received an increase of $174,542. Elmont Union Free Schools received $1,442,299, Franklin Square received $300,635, West Hempstead received $160,811 and Valley Stream 13 received $619,743.

The new state budget was a direct outgrowth of the Assembly budget resolution that Alfano supported just weeks ago. In the series of votes on the resolution, Alfano broke with party leaders and backed aid to schools, hospitals and higher education. "It was the right thing to do and special interests were defeated," he noted. The resolution also set the stage for negotiations over the final budget package that resulted in the first on-time budget in over 20 years.

The state budget battle over aid to schools was settled, according to Alfano, with schools in the 21st Assembly District receiving increases in school aid on many levels. Alfano, who called for more aid at a recent community news conference, got his wish with increases in operating aid and restoration of BOCES, special education and categorized aids. "This was a great start on my plan, but we have to do more for our schools and taxpayers," Alfano said.

The aid packages announced as the bills were passed in the Assembly and Senate had marked increases in categorized aids and comprehensive aid that Alfano termed critical for local schools. "Schools will get the resources they need and school districts will know what to budget for. Now, for the first time in 20 years, school districts can get right down to business of budgeting for education," Alfano added.

He cited the great team effort put together with local superintendents, including Dr. John Williams, superintendent of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, and Dr. William McDonald, superintendent of the Floral Park-Bellerose School District. "It was a real partnership and I can't thank them enough for their help and support."

Superintendent Williams noted, "There are many variables that affect the property taxes paid by our district residents. The administration and board of education at Sewanhaka have done everything in their power to keep the growth in the school district budget to an absolute minimum. Indeed, Sewanhaka is one of the lowest spending districts by any measure in all of Nassau County. An on-time education budget that sends more of our own money back from Albany enables us to make dollar for dollar additions to the revenue side of our budget and thereby reduces the tax levy for the residents of the Sewanhaka Central High School District."