New State Budget Increases Revenues to 90th Assembly District

Assemblywoman Galef (90th AD) announced that the New York State Budget passed last week included increases to her district that will help hold taxes down while providing financial resources to students and residents.

In school aid alone, Galef's 90th Assembly district received an additional $11,546,608 for education over last year's budget. The budget also restored the governor's proposed cuts in BOCES and Foundation Aid Formula, and increases the high tax aid to the district.

"This record increase in school aid in the state budget will benefit school property tax payers and lower their tax burden," stated Galef.

* Galef secured an additional $200,000 in aid through the New York State Assembly for the Peekskill School District.

Other positive impacts to local school districts include the increase of $1.1 million to assist schools in conducting fingerprinting and background checks for prospective employees. There will be savings of 10% to 30% in costs for school construction and municipal projects with new changes in the WICKS Law.

Municipalities in the 90th AD will also receive a 3% increase over last year in state aid, through the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM), Galef announced. As a small city, Peekskill will receive a 4.8% increase in municipal aid.

The final budget included $363 million for funding the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program. Some of this $50 million increase will fund local road and bridge projects in the 90th AD.

The Middle Class STAR program will continue at its present level of funding, and Enhanced STAR rebates will increase 40% this year. These benefits are in addition to the BASIC STAR and Enhanced STAR credits reflected in the school tax bills.

In housing, $25 million was added to the budget to give financial counseling and legal services to homeowners facing default and foreclosure due to the unscrupulous practices of the mortgage industry. There is $200 million of capital money for the development of affordable housing.

"With more money coming from Albany in state aid, there will be significant financial help to local taxpayers with their property tax bills during these difficult economic times," concluded Galef.