Senate Education Committee Seeks Restoration of State Aid
The Smithtown Central School District is on a list of Long Island districts seeking the return of withheld state aid from paperwork gaffes.
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The Smithtown Central School District is one of four Long Island school districts that the Senate Education Committee is looking to help by recently passing bills to restore withheld state aid, according to a Newsday report.
According to the report, the committee is trying to have the withheld aid due to paperwork filing gaffes, which is close to $60 million, included in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's upcoming budget.
Other Long Island school districts affected include the Central Islip Union Free School District, Rocky Point Union Free School District and the Babylon Union Free School District. One other district outside of Long Island is included, the Fredonia Central School District.
Patch reported in April 2011 that the district sought the help of State Sen. John Flanagan, R-East Northport, to attempt to have state aid for the district restored. Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, who worked with Flanagan on this, told Patch in May 2011 at the time that he was confident the bill would pass.
“I feel confident that a bill will pass, I’m hopeful the governor will sign it, but it wouldn’t be fair when you have money already encumbered for that aid to lose it because a report is filed late,” Fitzpatrick said.
Cuomo vetoed the legislation that would have restored state aid the districts lost in Sept. 2011.
Newsday reported that Cuomo wrote in vetoing the original bills, "the state budget would provide a broader context and be the most appropriate venue to address these issues."
Smithtown’s four late filed reports resulted in $3.1 million in state building aid being withheld. Of 81 total reports, the four missing were from a district capital improvement plan that consisted of building improvements from classroom construction and additions to alterations to elementary school buildings, roof replacements and more.
Pam
10:24 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
This is where the comments should be folks. Are you even aware of how a bill becomes a law? This is what everyone is angry about yet no one is commenting. oy vey-the penalties are excessive why are we funding the State's rainy day fund. Funding Smithtown's rainy day fund has made our taxes skyrocket over the past 10 years haven't we funded enough rainy day funds? The legislature can and should make someone other than the children the ones that are hurt by this, but this penalty ONLY hurts the children in the long run. It is a punitive assessment that is unjust.
robkoz
11:34 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
I have a lot to say but the system is so broken the only ones who get the shaft are the kids and their parents. You know, the ones that actualy pay the taxes. IMO there should be no state aid given out. We, single family homeowners, have paid more in taxes than the other 48 states in this country. Personaly the only way to put this abuse to an end is by charging tuition for each child. This accomplishes a few things, it ends free rides from those that abuse and puts an end to the teachers union that treat us like their own personal cash cow. Sorry but I no longer believe that an education is a right, it's a privilege. Espcially if other people are paying for it and everyone else is wasting it.
robkoz
10:43 pm on Monday, January 16, 2012
Out of all the taxes we pay and all the "aid" given out through taxpayer funds let me know if you see any Long Island schools listed here:
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/neighborhoods/school-district/ratings/top100/
A Concerned Resident
9:31 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Number 84 was the only one I could find. i agree, with the taxes that most Long Islanders are paying, we should be seeing more than just one school! I am paying over $13,000 per year in taxes for a very typical house in Smithtown.