Final State Aid Numbers Favor Local Schools

With state Assembly members poised to vote on a final budget on Thursday, state leaders announced Wednesday school aid totals for the 2013-2014 budget year, with local districts receiving over $800,000 more than originally expected this upcoming year.

According to the office of state Sen. Ken LaValle, R-Port Jefferson, the final budget – which is expected to be the third budget passed on time in a row, a feat for state legislators – will restore $50 million in high tax aid that was cut under the proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. LaValle said $44 million of that total would have come from Long Island schools.

“We fought long and hard to insure our fair share of total state aid was maintained for our region,” LaValle said. "High tax aid is critically important to insure the continuation of quality educational programs while providing relief for tax payers."

According to numbers provided by the state, Port Jefferson, Comsewogue and Mt. Sinai School Districts will receive $820,720 more than Cuomo had proposed in his budget.

Here are the figures for local schools:

Port Jefferson School District:

• In 2012-2013, it received: $3,085,985
• The governor proposed: $3,042,147
• The final budget figure is expected to be: $3,194,567

Comsewogue School District:

• In 2012-2013, it received: $24,445,715
• The governor proposed: $25,262,601
• The final budget figure is expected to be: $25,614,364

Mt. Sinai School District

• In 2012-2013, it received: $14,516,575
• The governor proposed: $14,884,300
• The final budget figure is expected to be: $15,200,837