Skelos Announces State School Aid Increase For Nassau County And Property Tax Relief Package

SKELOS ANNOUNCES STATE SCHOOL AID INCREASE FOR NASSAU COUNTY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PACKAGE

Budget Contains Education Tax Credit and Eliminates State Sales Tax on Clothing

New York State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) today announced that the new budget passed by the State Legislature includes additional state school aid for local districts, a new school tax relief rebate check program, more state revenue sharing for local governments and a tax credit for school-age children, eliminates the state sales tax on clothing and shoes and repeals the marriage penalty.

"Throughout the state budget negotiations, I fought to secure more state school aid for our local school districts and ease the overwhelming burden placed on property taxpayers," said Senator Skelos. "Now, our school districts must do their part. They must be accountable to the local taxpayers by using these additional resources to prevent tax increases and invest in the first-class education that our children deserve."

As adopted by the State Legislature, the state budget provides:

Valley Stream #13 School District will receive $572,759 in new state aid, for a total of $8,489,428. This includes $64,554 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $688,688 in capital funding provided.

Valley Stream #24 School District will receive $502,810 in new state aid, for a total of $3,693,583. This includes $31,604 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $336,483 in capital funding provided.

Valley Stream #30 School District will receive $807,105 in new state aid, for a total of $4,256,539. This includes $43,923 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $469,473 in capital funding provided.

Valley Stream Central High School District School District will receive $1,479,590 in new state aid, for a total of $14,227,568. This includes $137,211 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,457,772 in capital funding provided.

Baldwin School District will receive $2,193,069 in new state aid, for a total of $21,228,298 an 11.52% increase. This includes $164,001 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,741,700 in capital funding provided.

Rockville Centre School District will receive $550,325 in new state aid, for a total of $6,952,649 an 8.60% increase. This includes $109,553 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,170,960 in capital funding provided.

Oceanside School District will receive $1,447,947 in new state aid, for a total of $15,390,503. This includes $188,908 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,998,388 in capital funding provided.

Island Park School District will receive $539,552 in new state aid, for a total of $2,154,624. This includes $25,000 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $241,626 in capital funding provided.

Malverne School District will receive $765,224 in new state aid, for a total of $7,360,790. This includes $49,245 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $516,261 in capital funding provided.

West Hempstead School District will receive $448,732 in new state aid, for a total of $6,469,097. This includes $72,088 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $761,733 in capital funding provided.

Lynbrook School District will receive $1,093,634 in new state aid, for a total of $6,666,988. This includes $94,364 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,004,321 in capital funding provided.

East Rockaway School District will receive $663474 in new state aid, for a total of $5,037,496. This includes $38,212 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $404,420 in capital funding provided.

Long Beach School District will receive $320,114 in new state aid, for a total of $9,557,973. This includes $125,340 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,327,986 in capital funding provided.

Hewlett-Woodmere School District will receive $146,890 in new state aid, for a total of $5,576,009. This includes $95,769 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,014,896 in capital funding provided.

Lawrence School District will receive $536,693 in new state aid, for a total of $7,378,121. This includes $101,331 in special resources for high-tax school districts, with an additional $1,067,772 in capital funding provided.

Moreover, the state budget provides homeowners with real property tax relief by (1) sending every Long Island homeowner a school property tax rebate check directly from New York State, (2) increasing the Enhanced School Tax Relief ("STAR") program’s income limits to ensure local seniors remain eligible for these larger savings and (3) enhancing state revenue sharing to town and village governments.

Beginning in October, every homeowner on Long Island will receive an annual school property tax rebate check from New York State. The rebate check will equal 30% of the homeowner’s STAR savings. In Nassau County, rebate checks for Basic STAR recipients will average $300 this year, with Enhanced STAR-eligible seniors receiving checks averaging $528. When added to the STAR program, Nassau County homeowners will save an average of $1,300 on their school property taxes this year, with Enhanced STAR-eligible seniors saving $2,288.

To provide local governments with increased budget flexibility and ease the pressure placed upon property taxpayers, Senator Skelos secured more state revenue sharing funds for local governments:

Cedarhurst will receive $53,925 (a $8,974 increase from 2005-06);

Hewlett Bay Park will receive $2,752 (a $480 increase from 2005-06);

Hewlett Harbor will receive $5,493 (a $914 increase from 2005-06);

Hewlett Neck will receive $2,578 (a $455 increase from 2005-06);

Lawrence will receive $34,278 (a $5,705 increase from 2005-06);

Long Beach will receive $3,208,732 ($451,173 more than 2005-06);

Atlantic Beach will receive $10,012 ($1,666 more than 2005-06);

Lynbrook will receive $243,904 (a $40,591, or 20%, increase from 2005-06);

East Rockaway will receive $199,476 (a $33,197, or 20%, increase from 05-06);

Malverne will receive $109,556 (a $18,232 increase from 2005-06);

Island Park will receive $128,227 (a $21,348 increase from 2005-06);

Rockville Centre will receive $413,245 (a $68,772 increase from 2005-06);

Valley Stream will receive $571,576 (a $95,122 increase from 2005-06) and

Town of Hempstead will receive $3,940,166 (a $655,722, or 20% increase from 2005-06).

With the rising cost of education-related expenses, Senator Skelos fought for a new education tax credit designed to provide necessary tax relief to the parents of school-age children. As included within the state budget, the new education tax credit provides taxpayers with a personal income tax credit for their school-age children (ages 4 through 17). Married couples filing joint tax returns with an adjusted gross income ("AGI") up to $100,000 and single taxpayers with an AGI under $75,000 will receive a $330 credit for each child. Families with an AGI of $125,000 will receive an $83 tax credit for one child, $413 for two children and $743 for three children.

Through the state budget, Senator Skelos eliminated the state sales tax on clothing and shoes priced under $110 per item and repealed the state income tax marriage penalty, thereby increasing the standard deduction for married taxpayers so that it conforms with that of single filers.

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