Senate Education Committee Seeks Restoration of State Aid

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.

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, .

“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.

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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.