On Time!

Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Milford) commented on the state budget following final action by the legislature on March 31.

"We have just wrapped up our second on-time state budget that cuts income and property taxes for the state’s hardworking, overburdened taxpayers. It does not contain a penny in new taxes or fees.

The legislature approved record state dollars to our local schools that will help our students achieve more in their classrooms, reduce pressure on school property taxes, and help improve and modernize schools. The school aid package, which represents a 7 percent increase in state aid, boosts operating aid and restores BOCES, handicapped student, and building aids. It invests in important teacher programs as well. It is a good budget for our high need, low wealth school districts.

"We added $1.3 billion in new school aid, and while that is a record, we must insist on results and accountability for the dollars we invest in our schools -- better test scores, higher achievement and students who are prepared for college or the workforce.

"No budget is perfect because it is a compromise, but we have achieved my goals of tax cuts, boosting our economy and helping our students and teachers."
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