Officials Announce Tax Cut, New Pre-K Funding for Marlboro Schools

MARLBORO — State officials have announced an unprecedented tax cut and funding for new seats in the pre-kindergarten program in the Marlboro school district for the fall.

State Sen. James Skoufis and Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson joined Superintendent of Schools Michael Brooks and other district officials Monday to announce provisions they secured in the recently adopted state budget.

Among them was an overall increase of $1.8 million in state school aid, which will allow the district to reduce its tax levy by 3.03%. The funding includes $270,000 in first-time universal pre-kindergarten funding to support 42 new pre-K seats this fall.

Skoufis and Jacobson also were able to get a waiver for a $155,000 state fine for the district for a years-old paperwork error.

"After an impossibly trying year for students, parents and teachers, Marlboro families can breathe a sigh of relief today," Skoufis said. "The district's financials demanded bold, meaningful action, and we took up the call. I am proud to announce this unprecedented tax cut and massive school aid injection, and as a new father myself, I fought hard to deliver pre-K education for all of our youngest residents."

Beyond the Marlboro district the state budget included $65 million for southern Ulster County school districts, a 10.3% increase in school aid.

Jacobson said that by getting the historic level of funding and waiving the $155,000 penalty for the district, "This will allow Superintendent Brooks and his team to devote their full resources to helping students learn as we transition to a post-pandemic world."

Brooks thanked Skoufis and Jacobson for "shepherding a plan to fully fund the state's obligation" to so-called foundation aid "that Marlboro has been due for years."