Long Island school districts will get $235 million more in state aid than last year, according to new numbers released Wednesday.
Gov. David Paterson?s budget calls for a $1.8 billion increase in school aid statewide. In years past, Long Island has hoped for the best when it comes to state aid, but expected the worst. This year, however, school officials say it looks like the state will deliver.
Amityville Union Free School District Superintendent Dr. John Williams, who helped News 12 Long Island crunch the numbers, says his school could be getting nearly $3 million more than last year. The Amityville school budget was based on receiving less state aid, so the district has money to spare.
Many other districts may also end up with extra funds and no shortage of ideas of what to do with it. Some suggest adding extra services or lowering tax increases.
The $121.7 billion budget, which passed the New York Senate and Assembly Wednesday, also includes a 4.9 percent spending increase.
Click to watch more on what could be done with the extra money